Someone brought the possibility that the Vikings would sign the
restricted free agent to an offer sheet and just give up 2 1st round
picks over the next 2 years, 2009, 2010. Not sure that works or not,
but the way they looked at it is this: The Vikings become a top 7 team
in the league with this move, keeping all our picks this year to
further our chances of improving ourselves to this point. If the
Vikings become an elite team the 1st round picks are late round picks
worth a lot less than the #17 this year. If by chance they do win or
get to the Super Bowl they would be giving a #31-32 pick.

Yes, this is overconfidence, but you sign a guy like Jared Allen, and
our D-line will become the best in the game. Which will further
improve the backfield because the QBs won't have all day to look for
open WRs like in past years. So the question is do you trade a #17
this year and one of the two 3rd round picks or roll the dice and sign
him to an offer sheet and keep all your draft picks? If we keep our
1st pick, it will be very interesting which route we might go.

Just something to think about if the trade talk falls through.