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Why the Chiefs Should Trade for Greg Ellis

Some people have already complained that we're aiming at players who are a bit too old, that we shouldn't give valuable playing reps to guys like Zach Thomas and that one veteran LB (Mike Vrabel) is enough. And if that's your belief, then you're really going to hate this idea: bring in another one.

Pass rush. That's the choice that we made. We had a chance to shore up our linebacking corps in a big way in the draft, but we chose Door #2 - the pass rush. Our first two choices were d-line and we even went defensive back in the fourth round. It's almost as if we avoided addressing our linebacking corps like last year's linebackers avoided making solid tackles. So in terms of "young guys who should be getting some PT there"... well, that just doesn't hold water because there's simply none who deserve those reps.

Rehabbing Tamba Hali's career makes a bit of sense (although I personally don't believe that transition will pan out). Demorrio Williams had some fans - at least when we signed him last year. Brian Johnston's mom posts on AP from time to time to let us know he's full of potential. But obviously the front office believes an infusion of veteran leadership in the middle is what unites the defense on the field. And, if that's the case, a guy currently sitting at home makes a whole lot of sense.

Enter Greg Ellis. The Cowboys want to trade him, but that's not happening. Why? Because once they trade him, his contract AND signing bonus become guaranteed, making him cost $5.6 million in cap room. While several teams still have varying levels of cap room, there remain many rookies to sign and several holes to fill and no one I'm aware of wants to give Jerry Jones a moment of relief. Releasing Ellis gives the Cowboys some cap relief of 4.15 million since they only owe him a guarantee of 1.5 million if cut.

But if you're the Chiefs, who knows if Ellis is willing to come your way? After all, 30 other teams are always in need of a pass rush, a defensive presence and someone who is only one season removed from the Pro Bowl and 12.5 sacks (in only 12 games). With 77 total sacks in his career, it's obvious Ellis has a knack for the one thing the Chiefs truly need - players who can disrupt the opponents backfield and get at the quarterback. But the Chiefs aren't the only team salivating over the ability to add such a player and I can definitely see an NFC East team signing Ellis for info on the Cowboys' plans alone.

So if you're the Chiefs, you have an opportunity here - to control a player's destiny and add an outside linebacker who is already familiar with the 3-4. Ellis holds much more experience in the 4-3, giving flexibility and insight into a transitioning defense. The cap room is already in house, as we all know, and the need still remains on the defensive side for a pass rushing linebacker without giving up valuable PT of one of our young guys.

Sometimes trades are brought up on AP that make absolutely no sense ("why don't we trade our 3rd round pick for Julius Peppers?" or "we should trade Larry Johnson for Albert Haynesworth!") Of course those are usually written with the caps lock button on and with Chiefs spelled c-h-e-e-f-s. But Ellis seems one trade candidate that makes a lot of sense for KC and one I hope Pioli and Co. are thinking long and hard about.

0 recs  |  Comment 19 comments |

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The Early Bird Special

The entire Chiefs’ LB core will be eating it at 4pm before they head back to Del Boca Vista.

by SlipperyPete on May 25, 2009 7:36 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

haha

nice seinfeld reference!

by Matt Conner on May 25, 2009 8:11 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

this MIGHT make sense

Of all the trade and fa dreams I’ve seen on here, this actually comes close to making sense. Ellis is a proven commodity. His career path is very much like what they are trying with Hali…moved from DE to OLB in the 3-4. Kind of sounds like he prefers DE, but is still productive—-Parcells made him move while he was in Dallas. Only thing is, we have a lot of young talent and who would you want to get rid of to add him? I guess I’ll trust in Haley and Pioli.

by Zodeman on May 25, 2009 8:41 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

It's one of those moves

That makes a TON of sense. We’ve done nothing, outside of Vrabel, to add to the pass rush.

Johnston’s mom on AP…LOL :)

by Joel Thorman on May 25, 2009 9:04 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Wonder what his preference is, as well

In a 4-3, it looks like he was averaging 6-8 sacks per season. In the 3-4 he went from 4.5 to 12.5 to 8 sacks, with two of those years being partials.

Here are his career stats.

IF he’s released, he’ll have options. I always wonder why a veteran would come to a 2-14 team (because that’s what we are until proven otherwise) but Zach Thomas did and Bobby Engram did. We’re doing something right, or at least being perceived as doing something right.

by Joel Thorman on May 25, 2009 9:14 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm not opposed to getting him

But he seems like a slightly taller Tamba Hali.

As primetime just stated, he was a 6-8 sack guy in the 4-3 and other than the one 12.5 sack year (same year that Demarcus Ware had 14 sacks, presumably flushing QB’s over to Ellis on the left side) , he’s never gotten over 9.

His first 4 years (19.5 sacks in 61 games) in the league look a lot like Hali’s first 3 (18.5 sacks in 47 games). Athletically they seem pretty similar to me, though Ellis is 6-5 compared to Tamba at 6-3.

I don’t think I’d enter the season with any higher expectations for Ellis than I do for Tamba.

by RedNose on May 25, 2009 9:29 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

3-4

Except that Ellis has proven he can make the transition to the 3-4. As of now, we know what Ellis gives us. We don’t know what Hali gives us.

by Joel Thorman on May 25, 2009 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You're right. He has shown he can be a capable pass rusher in the 3-4

Having the competition certainly wouldn’t hurt. If Tamba proves to be more effective than Ellis, we’ve only lost cap dollars on Ellis’ contract. If Ellis wins, we have a serviceable veteran for a year or two.

It’s not really a big risk. I wonder what he’d warrant in a trade?

by RedNose on May 25, 2009 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

We don't wanna trade

We want to wait for him to be released.

If we trade for the player, then we’re also trading for the contract which pays him over $5 million next season.

by Joel Thorman on May 25, 2009 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

5 million is no problem this year, if you think he'll be productive

I’d be more concerned with what you’d have to give up.

If he’s released, and chooses to sign here. I’m definitely all for it

by RedNose on May 25, 2009 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Possibly heading into an uncapped year

I’m sure Clark Hunt and the Chiefs want to be careful with their money.

by Joel Thorman on May 25, 2009 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sure. And you're probablly right

I doubt if Pioli will give up a draft pick for a 33 year old with a $5 million contract.

by RedNose on May 25, 2009 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ellis isn't THE "the player," is he?

Heh. I agree, prime, we’d prefer to wait for him to be cut and then be the team with the deepest pockets (and possibly the beginnings of some mystique?). It could easily cost $5 million or more, which is still less than 1/3 of what Peppers commands with the Franchise Tag.

Hold the presses! According Wiki, as non-exclusive rights FFA:

Defensive End $8,991,000

That’s quite a bit less than the $17 million I’ve heard.

Algebra: 17 = 1.2x
—→ x = 17/1.2 = 14.1666… million. Is that Peppers’ 2008 salary?

Anyhoo, it seems that the Chiefs could afford to pay Ellis quite handsomely for 1 or 2 seasons, without feeling the bite.

I’m pleased to be seeing this discussion. Weren’t many takers on my FanShot on Saturday. Thanks, Connerman, for getting the discussion started. :o)

by hmills110 on May 25, 2009 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Nope. The figure cited by FOXSports is

$11,735,000, times 1.2 equals $14,082,000 is the number to meet, if KC put the pedal to the metal.

By comparison, Glenn Dorsey receives $6,933,250.

by hmills110 on May 25, 2009 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't think Pioli will go for him.

I think they have seen the tapes on Hali and for that matter Dorsey and liked what they seen. With the new coaches and the way they are training this team is going to be better prepared for games.

by bringbacktheglory on May 25, 2009 11:58 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I think it's a chance they're interested

Remember Ellis made the move to the 3-4 under Parcells and we know how much Pioli likes those players….

by Joel Thorman on May 25, 2009 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Also...

It wouldn’t be too bad because just like in Dallas, Ware pushed the QB to Ellis’ side..
well in KC, Vrabel will push the QB to Ellis’ side…or the other way around=]
Hope they release him. Maybe Pioli will be talking to Parcells about it today at a BBQ ha.

by Wrestler189s on May 25, 2009 12:35 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I dont think he's worth giving up much for.

Be happier if we signed him after he was released. As far as being same or simillar to Hali I dont think you can really go wrong bringing the guy in. If Hali works then all of the sudden we have good depth and a good pass rush that we can rotate players in and out of and if Hali doesnt work then we have a guy that we know can do the job.

by GenericBrand on May 25, 2009 4:58 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

With Eliis on the roster

our LB core could go

Vrabel/ Johnston, Zack Thomas/ Monty Beisel, Derrick Johnson, Ellis/Hali

This way we don’t gas out any of our rusted toys

Time is a great teacher... unfortunately it kills all it's pupils.

by 808NaNz808 on May 25, 2009 5:11 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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