Until a certain Green Bay Packers quarterback was traded to the Jets earlier this month, the blockbuster trade of the NFL offseason came April 22, when the Kansas City Chiefs shipped right defensive end Jared Allen to the Vikings.

Nearly five months later, the Chiefs are a week from their season opener against a rusty Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. A dominant pass rush off Brady's blind side sure would come in handy right about now, don't ya think?

But Allen and last year's NFL-high 15 1/2 sacks are gone. Concerned about Allen's off-the-field behavior and unwilling to pay him the going rate for a premier pass-rushing right end, the Chiefs traded him for the Vikings' first-round draft pick, two third-round picks and an exchange of sixth-round picks.

The Vikings reached into owner Zygi Wilf's pockets, gave Allen $31,000,069 (69 is his jersey number) in guarantees and everyone is smiling as Allen prepares to hunt down Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in his first NFL start a week from Monday.

What's happening on the flip side of that trade?

Well, the Chiefs certainly aren't able to realize the immediate boost that comes with adding a 26-year-old NFL sack king. It's also far too early for them to judge the long-term value of the trade.

Guard Branden Albert, selected with the first-round pick acquired from the Vikings, hasn't played this preseason because of a foot injury. He was expected to be a starter immediately.

Running back Jamaal Charles and safety DaJuan Morgan, the players selected with the extra third-round picks, are doing better. Morgan is pushing Bernard Pollard for the starting strong safety job, while Charles has looked exceptionally fast as a third-down, change-of-pace back behind Larry Johnson.

Wide receiver-kick returner Kevin Robinson, the player selected with the Vikings' original sixth-round pick, is on the physically-unable-to-perform list (knee). The Vikings used Kansas City's original sixth-round pick to select Notre Dame center John Sullivan five picks later.

As for replacing Allen, the Chiefs risked further disturbance on their defensive line by shifting 2006 first-round draft pick Tamba Hali from left end to right end. In a phone interview earlier this week, Hali admitted he's "more fluent" on the left side, where he had eight sacks as a rookie and 7 1/2 last year.

"It's a big adjustment going from the left side to the right side," said Hali, who didn't have a sack in the preseason. "I like it on the right side, but there are going to be ups and downs. It's not going to be perfect or pretty all the time. The competition from the offensive line on that side is better, so you got to take the good, the bad and the ugly over there."

Hali's replacement at left end is Turk McBride, a second-round draft pick last year. He had three sacks during the preseason, including two against the Cardinals.

The tackles are young as well. Tank Tyler, a third-round pick last year, plays primarily next to McBride. And the other tackle is rookie No. 5 overall pick Glenn Dorsey.

So that makes the 24-year-old Hali the grizzled veteran of the Chiefs defensive line. Just don't say he's "replacing" Allen. He has grown tired of hearing that.

"Jared was a great player," Hali said. "I respect him and the way he played the game. ... But I can't dwell on the fact I'm replacing him. I'm not replacing him. I've been here. He was here with me. He left.

"So I'm just moving my position to the other side to be able to create the same kind of atmosphere he had when he was here, which is rushing the passer, making plays, just being a dominant force on the defense. I don't want to 'replace' him."

The Chiefs are expressing patience with their young pass rushers.

"No one knew who Jared Allen was," coach Herm Edwards told reporters. "He was a fourth-round pick. Who knew he was going to be a heck of a pass rusher? It took him four years to develop that skill."

Mark Craig • mcraig@startribune.com