By MiddleLB40
Published: April 25, 2008 PrintEmail
The Draft. It’s the beginning of football season for the true football
fan. A time where hope is renewed for struggling teams or where the
elite add depth and youth. Whether you’re a fan of the Dolphins or the
Giants, you have one thing in common: excitement.
This year's excitement is mainly played off all the variables in the
draft. There are so many scenarios, mostly for older players on the
trading block. There are four veterans who may find a new home this
year via trades during the draft: DE Jared Allen, Kansas City Chiefs;
DE Jason Taylor, Miami Dolphins; TE Jeremy Shockey, New York Giants;
and the variable WR Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals. Lets explore the
trade possibilities on these four veterans.
Jared Allen has become the face of the Kansas City defense. Last year,
in spite of missing the first two games due to the NFL substance abuse
policy, Allen recorded a career high 15 and a half sacks earning his
first berth into the Pro Bowl. He’s young (26), athletic and a real
disruptive force on the defensive front. Why then would Kansas City
consider letting him go now? There are two answers: money and Herm
Edwards. First, Allen was franchised this year bringing his salary to
$8.8 million. He might be worth that, but Kansas City might be looking
at the value in this year's draft at offensive line and cornerback, two
high priority positions. To explain the (non-exclusive) franchise tag,
Allen is allowed to shop himself under this agreement, meaning he can
meet with any teams who might be interested in his services. If a team
were to put an offer sheet to Allen, the Chiefs would have the
opportunity to match. If the Chiefs did not match the offer, they would
receive two first round picks as compensation. This in itself raises
the potential value of Allen on draft day. Kansas City cannot accept
anything less than a first round and a late second/early third round
pick for Allen.
What teams would be willing to move off of their picks? The rumors are
Minnesota and Tampa Bay. Minnesota might be willing to give up picks 17
and 73 to grab Allen’s services. This gives them a much needed pass
rusher who is young and proven, and they could then restructure his
contract to be a bit more cap friendly. Tampa has the 20th overall and
the 83rd overall, a little less value, but if the Vikings don’t bite,
Tampa might find themselves with a new pass rusher who fits their
scheme like a glove. The benefits for Kansas City are astounding if
they could move Allen. This would give them 5 picks in the first three
rounds, allowing them to address the O-line, corner and even QB
situations with guys Herm Edwards chooses. At the end of the day, I
think the Vikings get their man, maybe instead giving up their 17th and
82nd pick overall.
Jason Taylor is intriguing to me. He’s a 12-year veteran and will be 34
by the time the season starts. He’s hit that age where some ask, "When
will he slow down?" He hasn’t yet, and he generally gives you between 9
and 13 sacks a year. Many teams feel he has a lot of football left in
him, but his age will be the pill to swallow. Teams will not give up
early picks (future players) for an aging defensive end, even one that
is the production type of player Taylor is. Taylor just wants out of
Miami, where it’s a rebuilding year, and even Taylor has to hear the
clock ticking. The chances of him making it to a Super Bowl with Miami
are slim to none, so Taylor wants out. The tough part is Miami wants a
decent pick in return. A second rounder might be a bit hard to swallow
for a team, but an early third and maybe a future pick might sell the
deal for Miami. They would hate to see him go, but the clock is
certainly ticking and the time is now for Miami if they plan for the
future.
Who would be interested in Taylor? Jacksonville has to be chomping at
the bit here. They can keep their first and second round picks and get
a player who might help them reach that all elusive elite status. Plus,
they have a late third rounder also, and sure, they give up a
developmental player, but for Jacksonville, the time is now for a Super
Bowl. Their offense seems to be falling into place, and with calculated
selection, they could replace Marcus Stroud with either Kentwan Balmer
in the first or Pat Sims in the second. They may even spend their 125th
pick here to sweeten the deal. Either way Miami gets some developmental
talent and Taylor gets his shot at a ring. It’s a win-win situation.
The Giants find themselves in a pretty sweet situation. They won the
Super Bowl, and they did it without Jeremy Shockey. A little known
tight end by the name of Kevin Boss made an adequate though
non-explosive replacement to Shockey. Is Boss better than Shockey? Most
would have to say no. Did Boss let the world know Shockey is
replaceable? Well they won the big dance didn’t they?
The Giants are in a great position because they don’t have to let
Shockey go. He’s not demanding it, nor is he too expensive. What the
G-men can do is entertain the use of Shockey as bait to either move up
from their current position or get some pretty good talent in the early
second round, depending on how the draft board goes. If the Giants feel
their man will be drafted before they get a shot at him, they may move
up. If, however, they get the guy they want at their pick and there is
someone hanging around near an interested parties pick, the Giants may
move. There is a ton of offensive line talent out there in this draft
and the Giants might find themselves looking down the barrel of a nice
OT early in the second round. Shockey won’t be worth a first round pick
as he’s hitting near that age (as we spoke of earlier) and he’s coming
off a pretty nasty leg injury. These two variables will make teams just
a little weary of a jump, but I think New Orleans would be a hell of a
home for Shockey. New Orleans would give the Giants their 40th overall
pick for the rights to Shockey. This give the Giants another pick to
play with (which they'd probably go offensive line) and it gives New
Orleans a very nice weapon in Shockey. I also like Atlanta to move on
him with Crumpler gone and Atlanta having some picks to play with.
Who Dey? Dey’s angry! It looks as if Chad Johnson will not be in a
Bengals uniform next year. The problem is that the Bengals would take a
huge shot in the salary cap to trade Johnson, but he wants out and has
said so time and time again. There is a lot involved here, money,
respect and chemistry. Now there are words traded over the air between
he and his quarterback Palmer, so Cincy might be forced to move
Johnson. This is a stretch, but I like Philly to get into this
situation. The last time they were in the hunt was with T.O., and we
got to see what McNabb could do with a real viable target. Philly
wanted in on Moss, but got overshadowed by the Pats, and now another
big time receiver is on the block and Philly might move. They could
give up their 19th and 80th picks and acquire the rights to Johnson.
There would have to be some major pencil pushing as Cincy doesn’t want
to take a salary cap hit, and the numbers are so confusing I don’t know
where to start. I like Johnson with the Eagles though as it gives
McNabb a big time target and gets Chad out of Cincinnati.
Pull out the popcorn, and get ready for the roller coaster. It’s a
heartbreak watching one of your favorite guys go to another team, but
just think, the picks they get for him might just be your next favorite
players.
Jared Allen has become the face of the Kansas City defense. Last year,
in spite of missing the first two games due to the NFL substance abuse
policy, Allen recorded a career high 15 and a half sacks earning his
first berth into the Pro Bowl. He’s young (26), athletic and a real
disruptive force on the defensive front. Why then would Kansas City
consider letting him go now? There are two answers: money and Herm
Edwards. First, Allen was franchised this year bringing his salary to
$8.8 million. He might be worth that, but Kansas City might be looking
at the value in this year's draft at offensive line and cornerback, two
high priority positions. To explain the (non-exclusive) franchise tag,
Allen is allowed to shop himself under this agreement, meaning he can
meet with any teams who might be interested in his services. If a team
were to put an offer sheet to Allen, the Chiefs would have the
opportunity to match. If the Chiefs did not match the offer, they would
receive two first round picks as compensation. This in itself raises
the potential value of Allen on draft day. Kansas City cannot accept
anything less than a first round and a late second/early third round
pick for Allen.
Jason Taylor is intriguing to me. He’s a 12-year veteran and will be 34
by the time the season starts. He’s hit that age where some ask, "When
will he slow down?" He hasn’t yet, and he generally gives you between 9
and 13 sacks a year. Many teams feel he has a lot of football left in
him, but his age will be the pill to swallow. Teams will not give up
early picks (future players) for an aging defensive end, even one that
is the production type of player Taylor is. Taylor just wants out of
Miami, where it’s a rebuilding year, and even Taylor has to hear the
clock ticking. The chances of him making it to a Super Bowl with Miami
are slim to none, so Taylor wants out. The tough part is Miami wants a
decent pick in return. A second rounder might be a bit hard to swallow
for a team, but an early third and maybe a future pick might sell the
deal for Miami. They would hate to see him go, but the clock is
certainly ticking and the time is now for Miami if they plan for the
future. 
The Giants find themselves in a pretty sweet situation. They won the
Super Bowl, and they did it without Jeremy Shockey. A little known
tight end by the name of Kevin Boss made an adequate though
non-explosive replacement to Shockey. Is Boss better than Shockey? Most
would have to say no. Did Boss let the world know Shockey is
replaceable? Well they won the big dance didn’t they? 
Who Dey? Dey’s angry! It looks as if Chad Johnson will not be in a
Bengals uniform next year. The problem is that the Bengals would take a
huge shot in the salary cap to trade Johnson, but he wants out and has
said so time and time again. There is a lot involved here, money,
respect and chemistry. Now there are words traded over the air between
he and his quarterback Palmer, so Cincy might be forced to move
Johnson. This is a stretch, but I like Philly to get into this
situation. The last time they were in the hunt was with T.O., and we
got to see what McNabb could do with a real viable target. Philly
wanted in on Moss, but got overshadowed by the Pats, and now another
big time receiver is on the block and Philly might move. They could
give up their 19th and 80th picks and acquire the rights to Johnson.
There would have to be some major pencil pushing as Cincy doesn’t want
to take a salary cap hit, and the numbers are so confusing I don’t know
where to start. I like Johnson with the Eagles though as it gives
McNabb a big time target and gets Chad out of Cincinnati.