The Redskins have $6 million of salary cap room. Even if they use all nine of their choices in this weekend's draft, they'll still have plenty of money to fit another veteran or two under the cap.
While Chad Johnson wants to join buddy Clinton Portis in D.C. and the Redskins could use the talented but volatile receiver, the Bengals insist that they won't trade him because they won't take the $8 million cap hit and because they don't like being bossed around by a player.
So what can Dan Snyder and Vinny Cerrato do with these millions of cap room? How about trading for Kansas City's Jared Allen? The Chiefs have let it be known that they're willing to part with the Pro Bowl defensive end for the right price, a factor that has rarely bothered Snyder.
Allen just turned 26. He led the league with 15.5 sacks in 2007 even though he was suspended for the first two games and even though the Chiefs were usually behind and their opponents dropped back just 499 times compared to 618 by Kansas City quarterbacks. Allen's 43 sacks during his four seasons were topped only by the 46 recorded by Miami's Jason Taylor.
Yes, Allen was suspended following a pair of DUI arrests in 2006, but his NFL sentence was halved upon appeal and he has apparently been clean since. The Redskins definitely need a pass-rushing end with Phillip Daniels having turned 35. Trading for Allen would secure them a proven one with plenty of years left rather than gambling that a college sud won't be a pro dud.
And consider this: Washington left tackle Chris Samuels has been chosen for three straight Pro Bowls because he rarely gives up sacks. After missing the entire 2007 preseason with a sprained knee, Samuels stoned Taylor in the opener. However, Allen had three sacks, six pressures and two forced fumbles in his lone game against Samuels and the Redskins in 2005. That performance alone should make Snyder and Cerrato seriously consider making a deal for Allen.
Comments (16)
Damned if they do and damn it if they don't...
In the past if the team considers this their overspending, mortgaging the future, and whatever else were saying. Why in the hell would you suggest this. Cannot please you not matter what they do.
Posted by Skip in VA | April 21, 2008 3:46 PM
It is about time someone wrote this! This is a trade actually worth doing.
Posted by Dan | April 21, 2008 4:48 PM
Chad Johnson, has fronted off the benglas. They might just let him sit, and give him base pay. Since most of his big money is tied up in large incentives, watch him break down like a shotgun, when it starts all coming to a head. He thinks, he's all-that and a bag of diva chips. But when he smells that smell from fresh cut grass in the spring, the football god is going to put some, BREAKDOWN, in his program, and he'll end up, [the first time he can put a justification together for the media] playing WR for the bengals in 2008.
Posted by faccipazzo | April 21, 2008 5:39 PM
Dream on. Jared only wants 35 mil up front in guaranteed money and Carl only wants all first round draft choices for the remainder of the decade.
Posted by Rich | April 21, 2008 5:58 PM
If the Redskins trade for Jared Allen then they will have the pass rusher they need and in the draft the redskins can worry about getting a new over six foot tall wide receiver. Don't forget Jared Allen is a Pro Bowl player and is only 26!!!!
Posted by Bryne Hedrick | April 21, 2008 6:16 PM
The only holdup for me would be Kansas City's asking price. How many picks or players would they want in return? He would fit in great with the Redskins but I definetly wouldnt trade 2 1st round icks for him.
Posted by mike | April 21, 2008 7:52 PM
A trade for Jared Allen would be a great move, only if you had the money... Check the our salary cap!The Skins have to re-build there financial situation for the future. Don't give up the two first rounders for him. Start building for our future thought the draft.... John
Posted by John Motlasz | April 22, 2008 7:04 AM
Actually I thought this would have been thought about long ago when they first hinted at possibly parting ways with the guy. I had the guy on our roster in Madden 08 for the last 5 seasons. He's a pefect fit...as far as football simulators go. LOL!!!
-David H.-
Posted by David Hall | April 22, 2008 8:35 AM
no way chiefs want to much. stick to draft.
Posted by Anonymous | April 22, 2008 9:24 AM
Like several of the comments.Stick to the draft.Srew spending money on other teams problems.Sit Chad on the stinking Bench till he gets right.And for one thing,we don't need anybodys BUDDY coming here.Clinton won't be around much longer,as our old OL.Time forsome young blood.We don't need Allen.Chad,even the thought of a Shockey,just as we didn't need a Briggs ,who brpke down and signed with Bears.Stick to the plan man.
Posted by charlesdog | April 22, 2008 10:06 AM
Usually I am against big deals, but this one makes a ton of sense. Let's face it, this team is going only as far as the defense can take it. The glaring weakness on D is pass rush. This guy is the genuine real deal. What would it cost to trade up to a top five pick in the draft? I would go that high. Even a top 5 pick is only a 50/50 proposition. It can't be a worse deal than trading up for Campbell.
Posted by AAA | April 22, 2008 10:46 AM
Every year someone on the draft board does a Brady Quinn and drops way below where they should be. What if the guy who does it this year is Darren McFadden? What should the Skins do if he drops to 21?
Posted by AAA | April 22, 2008 10:50 AM
are you serious if mcfadden dropped out of the top ten the cowboys would jump all over him in a heart beat... seriously do you have no idea what you are talking about jerry jones was even talking earlier in the year trading both his first round picks to get D Mac please think before you type stupid questions
Posted by really | April 22, 2008 12:35 PM
I didn't say he would fall to 21, moron, I said what if he did. Unless you are "really" Jerry Jones, you don't know what he will do.
Posted by AAA | April 22, 2008 7:17 PM
AAA, you're hallucinating. There is absolutely no way that 20 NFL teams are dumb enough to pass up on the best back in the draft and the physical specimen that McFadden is. Are you serious with that??? It's not worth anyone's time to ponder the possibility.
Posted by what??? | April 23, 2008 2:47 AM
I've seen D.Mcfadden play quite a few times and he's not even close to the talent that is Adrian Peterson. 1.] He can't run inside 2.] He's a bigger, taller Reggie Bush, who can't run inside either. 3.] He has the same habit that Bush has, in that he naturally wants to bounce everything outside, and that's not NFL, that's crap/habits he got away with in college because of his speed, that won't happen at this level, because he is only one among equals, skinny legs and all. So people need to get off his cajones'. There's at least 3-comparable type backs to Mcfadden, Morency-Packers, Harrison-Falcons, Morris-Seahawks, and more that don't come to mind. Wait until you see a revamped Michael Bush, he can inside/outside. mark my words, Michael Bush will have more playing time than McFadden.
Posted by faccipazzo | May 19, 2008 8:30 PM