Keenan Allen changed agents this offseason; his new representation will have an interesting task ahead. One of the biggest names on track for free agency at wide receiver, Allen does not sound interested in a true open market. Ahead of what would be his age-33 season, the decorated wideout is only open to landing in two cities.
Allen only wants to continue his career with the Bears or in Los Angeles, according to the Chicago Sun-Times’ Patrick Finley. The perennial Pro Bowler joined the Bears in a contract year, and the team is set for a transition. It is interesting that Allen will keep the door open to a Chicago signing, as the GM who acquired him (Ryan Poles) will be back. Allen said early last month he wanted to re-sign with the Bears, but family reasons have kept the L.A. door open.
Clarifying Allen’s L.A. stance, Finley notes the 12-year veteran would be open to returning to the Chargers or joining the Rams. Allen’s family still lives in Southern California; they would relocate if he re-signed with the Bears. It would be interesting to see if another team could change the veteran’s mind, as sticking to this three-teams-or-bust route would significantly limit his options. As it stands, however, Allen is not preparing to be a true free agent — even though he has never been on the open market previously.
The Chargers and Allen experienced a memorable fallout, with the team attempting to reduce the wideout’s pay early during the Jim Harbaugh-Joe Hortiz run. An extension offer made would have led to a reduction on Allen’s $20MM-per-year deal; he is instead playing out the contract with the Bears. Prior to being traded, Allen had expressed hope of finishing his career with the Bolts.
Allen experienced steady success with Justin Herbert targeting him and trails only Antonio Gates in receiving yards with the now-L.A.-based franchise. The former San Diego draftee is one of the best players in team history, though based on what transpired this past offseason, expecting a big-ticket contract offer from the Bolts may be unrealistic.
The Cal alum made it clear he has not decided on playing a 13th NFL season. This Bears campaign has brought a step back, as the team has made major changes while breaking in a rookie quarterback. Allen has topped 100 yards just once this season, entering Week 18 with 719 during Caleb Williams‘ rookie year. The Bears had acquired Allen to help the No. 1 overall pick develop, but the team fired OC Shane Waldron weeks into his first season — as criticism from Allen and D.J. Moore surfaced — and has used pass-game coordinator-turned-OC-turned-interim HC Thomas Brown as its play-caller since. The Bears have not won a game since giving up a Hail Mary touchdown to the Commanders in Week 7.
Allen’s age already stood to limit his 2025 market, as a short-term deal would be likely — in the event the six-time Pro Bowler did not choose to retire. Tee Higgins is set to headline the 2025 WR class — if the Bengals do not reapply the franchise tag — while the likes of Chris Godwin, Marquise Brown, Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper, Diontae Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins and Brandin Cooks in a mostly veteran-heavy crop that also includes ex-Allen sidekick Mike Williams, who has not made much of an impact in his first post-Chargers season.
The Bears gave Moore a long-term deal this summer and used a top-10 pick on Rome Odunze, likely limiting where they would go for Allen. The Chargers have centered their receiving corps around second-round sensation Ladd McConkey, who became the first Chargers wideout since Allen to post 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie. Harbaugh’s team needs help here, however, especially with Josh Palmer headed to free agency.
It is unclear how interested the Rams would be, having passed on a Cooper Kupp trade and seeing Puka Nacua become one of the NFL’s best pass catchers. Sean McVay‘s team eyeing Allen as a complementary piece would be something to monitor, Allen Robinson‘s Chicago-to-L.A. faceplant notwithstanding, especially if the quality route runner sticks to his California-or-Illinois plan.
Sitting 18th on the all-time receptions list (971) and 41st in yards (11,249), Allen probably needs to submit more to build a viable Hall of Fame case. It will be interesting to see if he passes on potential offers from non-Chicago or Los Angeles-based teams to ensure he continues his career on his terms.
It’s his life–not every free agent has to do it the same way. It sounds like his family is absolutely his priority, and while he wants to continue playing, he’s willing to hang it up if his needs aren’t met. Nothing wrong with that. I doubt limiting his market matters to him because the highest bidder still likely has to reach his demand or he’ll just retire. I say good for him!
Absolutely. One time my wife, who’s not a sports fan at all and knew basically nothing about them when we met, heard about a trade and said, “So they just have to move and they don’t get a choice? What a nightmare.”
Yep, and the reaction of so many is “boo hoo, they’re multi-millionaires…” Multi-millionaire or not, nobody wants to uproot their lives at moment’s notice. And then fans have the audacity to be upset when a player refuses to waive their no-trade clause that their agent successfully negotiated into their contract in the next breath.
@Oooof / Wives might pretend to know nothing but they actually know EVERYTHING…lol.
She knows plenty about plenty, but definitely not about sports.
I guess they could sign up for the military…where they’d be told where they’ll live and be paid a fraction of what players receive and not be able to retire after 5 to 10 years, like players can. Plus do much harder work. I do agree though in this case…good for Keenan Allen.
It surely can’t be for 23 million next year if he does come back. There are much better uses for that kind of dough.
I doubt that Allen would come back on anything more than a one year deal (or a two year that’s actually a one year). I could see both of his preferred destinations using him though. Odunze and Moore are definitely going to be the Bears’ planned future receivers, but given the late bloom of the passing game, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring Allen back next year if the money’s right to maintain a familiar corps to build off.
The Chargers could definitely use him, though. It seems like Allen would be willing to sign an easier deal for the convenience. The Rams might use him, but if they’re going to sign a useful veteran past his prime, why not bring back Kupp? This kind of thing happens often, but it would seem redundant to, in essence, trade one for the other.
Caleb orbits around Keenan on the benches, while DJ often sulks alone. That dynamic could become a problem, so I’d prefer Allen sign a multi year deal elsewhere, giving them a chance at a comp pick if Poles finally plays his cards right (along with Jenkins, Sanborn, Borom, Taylor, & Pryor).
I fear more that Poles’ & Warren’s connections to Vikes DC Brian Flores make him the most likely next HC, possibly keeping Brown on as the OC. That is a road to nowhere.
Hope they lose Sunday & Poles is fired Monday!!
Allen still has a lot of passion for the game and the Bears need more players like that.
The only hiccup with Allen back to the Bolts would be he and Ladd play the same slot receiver position. However Keenan has the versatility to move throughout the WR chain. He not as fast as once, but his skills set and ability to actually catch balls verses Q (team is stuck with his guarantees) should be enough that the team makes inquires as to cost and duration.
I wouldn’t expect the Rams or Chargers to have interest in Allen. He doesn’t fit with the Kupp/Puka tandem as a third piece.
With the Bears, I could see a reunion at a discounted rate. That WR room has turned into a question mark. Allen is aging, Moore has been disgruntled since the ceremonious contract extension during Hard Knocks, and Odunze has been having a rookie season that doesn’t rule out a productive career – but one that has been certainly overshadowed by the successes of Brian Thomas Jr. and Ladd McConkey, who were drafted after him.
I do wonder if the 2025 Bears would have liked another crack at the #9 pick – either trading down & gathering more assets (Vikings moved up one spot with NYJ to select JJ McCarthy, and the Broncos stood pat at 12 to grab Bo Nix). Or selecting Brock Bowers or an additional OL prospect. Hindsight is 20/20. Kmet doesn’t feel like a great fit with a Williams-style offense. He started out shaky, with 5/31 in the first 2 games, then had a 10/97/1 line in a loss to the Colts, where they were playing comeback all game, and Caleb threw the ball 52 times (outlier game). Take that game out, and he has 35/374/3 in 14 games. I wonder if there is a stylistic/scheme issue in regards to his fit on the team. Talented player. Might be a change of scenery candidate to a more run-heavy, jumbo set team.
This OL for Chicago needs a total revamp. Darnell Wright, if you remember correctly was drafted as an athletic RT who would excel in run-blocking. Fit Justin Fields offense (80 PFF run block grade, 74 Pass block). Braxton Jones has been catching the injury bug the past 2 seasons (23 games played). Teven Jenkins is a FA & has had some injury issues during his tenure. They need to figure out the depth piece of this all, because that is when things truly begin to unravel.
Wright has improved this season. He looks like a good piece for the OL.
While Darnell Wright has been good, they could’ve had Jalen Carter, who just made the pro-bowl. In hindsight, taking Odunze with a bad OL didn’t work out. They could’ve gotten more draft capital for OL and DL.
Overall Allen wasn’t worth the money this year. He had that foot problem and a few drops. But also made some great catches and moves. He isn’t WR1 anymore and age is taking its toll. Not sure how Kmet isn’t friendly to Williams, but he should be getting the ball more.
Guess he enjoys losing. More power to ya.
I would stay in Chicago.