UPDATED: Chicago Bears trade Jared Allen to the Carolina Panthers

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports is reporting that the Chicago Bears have traded Jared Allen to the Carolina Panthers.

The 33 year old Allen was making the position switch to 3-4 outside linebacker this season after playing 4-3 defensive end his previous 11 years in the NFL.

He ends his Chicago career with 5.5 sacks in 18 games and that's tied for 51st all time in Bears history with Tyrone Keys and Michael Haynes.

All kidding aside, Allen was brought in to rush the passer in Mel Tucker's 4 man front, and once the Bears cleaned house and brought in Vic Fangio's 3-4, the team had to be listening to any and all trade offers for Allen.

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport is reporting that Allen is already on a flight heading to Carolina.

Glazer is reporting the Bears will receive a 6th round draft pick for Allen.

The Bears gave Allen an $11.5 million roster bonus already this year, so that tells us that the current regime will not be handcuffed by owed money. General manager Ryan Pace will do whatever he feels is best for his team.

Rapoport is also reporting that Allen met with Pace to discuss possible 4-3 teams he could be traded to, because they agreed he wasn't a good fit in a 30 front defense.

While the Bears will eat a lot of dead money this year, Allen has no bonus money due him on the final two years of his contract. His base salary for 2016 is $8.5 million and in 2017 it's $8 million.

With Willie Young a healthy scratch yesterday, I had an inkling his name was being bandied about on the trade block, and that still could be the case.

Keep it right here on Windy City Gridiron for all breaking Bears news and reactions.

What are your thoughts on the trade?