COMMENTARY

Bitterness of Chiefs, Allen made this trade inevitable

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3. The Chiefs might now consider taking a big chance with the fifth pick — they might even take Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan. There has, according to sources, been a disagreement about Ryan — not about his talent (everyone seems to think he has a chance to be a fine NFL quarterback) but more about whether the Chiefs can afford to take a quarterback so high in the draft when they have so many other needs. Now, the Chiefs have so many draft picks, they might feel as if they can take Ryan and still get what they need at other positions.

Lots to think about. Saturday should be fun for the Chiefs’ scouting department, for coach Herm Edwards (who loves young players), and for fans who love the draft. It will be a wild two days, and the Chiefs’ name will come up again and again and again. With all those picks, the experts might tell us that the Chiefs had the very best draft in the NFL.

Trouble is, the Chiefs aren’t trying to win the draft. They’re trying to win on Sundays. That figures to be harder without one of the most disruptive defensive players in the NFL. Maybe the Chiefs will have a great draft. Maybe they will find a player or two who will make everyone forget Jared Allen. Maybe.

I wouldn’t bet on it. The draft is a crapshoot. Jared Allen is a star. You could argue that the Chiefs had no choice. But there’s a pretty good chance that Chiefs fans will regret Tuesday night for a long, long time.

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