Chiefs' franchise player Allen to visit Bucs, Vikes

Defensive end Jared Allen, the Kansas City Chiefs' designated franchise player, has scheduled visits with two NFL teams even though he doesn't have any assurance the Chiefs would even consider trading him.

Allen

According to a source, Allen is in the process of scheduling trips to the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the next week. Because he is an unsigned franchise player, Allen has the freedom to meet and talk to teams, but the current price tag for a team wanting to sign him is two No. 1 picks, which is a price most teams aren't willing to consider.

Negotiations between the Chiefs and Allen are at the very beginning stage and no deal is close. ESPN's Michael Smith reported that according to league sources, the Chiefs don't intend to re-sign Allen and expect to deal him before they pick fifth overall in the NFL draft.

The Chiefs confirmed Thursday that they are talking to a "few teams" about a possible trade for Allen.

Hashmarks: Shaking up the draftThe news that the Chiefs are working on trading Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen will impact the first round of the draft. How much? Hashmarks blogger Bill Williamson has the speculation. Story
• Scouts Inc.: Vikings make sense

Should the Chiefs be willing to listen to a trade, it creates an interesting scenario. The Chiefs currently have the No. 5 pick in the draft and are in need of offensive linemen. If the Chiefs would consider a trade of Allen, they could select Vernon Gholston or Chris Long to help them at defensive end and then take an offensive lineman with a first-round pick acquired in a trade. Smith reported that according to sources, the Vikings appear to be a front-runner because they have, and are willing to deal, Kansas City what it wants most -- draft choices.

Tampa Bay only has five picks in this year's draft and, according to sources, the Bucs are reluctant to include more than a first-round pick for Allen. The Bucs have offered their first-round pick and a fifth-round pick next year, and their proposed deal could also include defensive lineman Jovan Haye, Smith reported.

Meanwhile Minnesota is considering offering its first-round pick and a second-round pick in 2009, while the Chiefs would prefer to deal for picks in this year's draft, sources told Smith.