The Bears acquired veteran wideout Keenan Allen with the understanding that it could be a one-season pairing. While the two sides have yet to discuss an extension, Allen made it clear that he’d be interested in re-signing with Chicago…although the Bears would have to pay him accordingly.
[RECENT: WR Keenan Allen Addresses Chargers Departure]
“I’m going to play as long as I can,” Allen told Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun Times. “As far as an extension, I’m going to let the play speak for itself, and if they offer me something that I like, we’ll go from there.”
Allen is entering the final season of a four-year, $80.1MM extension he signed with the Chargers back in 2020. The wideout is attached to a $34MM-plus cap hit in 2024 and an $18MM-plus base salary, which contributed to his trade from the Chargers. Before Los Angeles dealt their star receiver, the front office attempted to negotiate an extension with the player. Allen was presented with “multiple contract options,” although it sounds like each of those routes would have come with a 2024 pay cut.
The Bears were willing to absorb Allen’s financial commitment for the 2024 campaign, as the organization was focused on surrounding first-overall pick Caleb Williams with as much talent as possible. Allen was certainly a worthy target. In addition to his lengthy resume, the wideout notably rebounded from a disappointing 2022 campaign, finishing the 2023 season with 108 catches for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns.
If the Bears hope to retain Allen beyond the 2024 campaign, they’ll have to compete with a rapidly increasing WR market. Allen noted as much, saying that Justin Jefferson‘s four-year, $140MM extension with the Vikings once again “reset” the market. With the likes of Ja’Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb also set to receive lucrative new deals, it’s in Allen’s best interest to remain patient.
It sounds like the Bears also aren’t feeling much urgency to complete an extension. As Finley notes, the Bears have “yet to engage Allen on a new deal.” As the writer notes, the team also somewhat prepared for a potential Allen exit when they selected Rome Odunze with the ninth-overall selection.
While neither side is in any particular rush to complete a deal, it sounds like they’re both interested in a long-term arrangement. After spending his entire professional career in California, Allen said it hasn’t been difficult getting used to Chicago.
“It wouldn’t be hard to adjust to a city like this,” Allen said.
The Bears really haven’t had a strong leadership presence on the team since Brian Urlacher and you aren’t going to be a championship caliber club without those types of players. Keenan Allen can provide a lot of leadership in that Bears locker room. I hope they find a way to keep him around beyond this season.
If Allen has a strong year and can mostly stay on the field and Moore also has his usual solid results, Poles will be in a delicate position. Moore, who’s been there longer and performed very well, would want to be extended first. And then there’s Odunze. Does he perform well enough that they can afford to let Allen walk? Actually, that’s the kind of problem Poles wants.
Just keeping Keenan Allen around to mentor the youngsters would be of value. If the Bears let him walk after this season and he joins a division rival they could end up kicking themselves.