The Bears secure the services of wide receiver Keenan Allen from the Chargers in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick.

March 14, 2024

The Bears secure the services of wide receiver Keenan Allen from the Chargers in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick.

The Chicago Bears made a significant move in free agency on Thursday evening, announcing a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers. They acquired wide receiver Keenan Allen in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick. Allen, aged 31, is in the final year of a four-year contract extension signed in 2020. He's set to receive a $5 million roster bonus on Sunday. After declining a pay cut from the Chargers, he's now part of the Bears offense alongside wide receiver DJ Moore.

Allen, who has been selected to the Pro Bowl six times, will be reunited with Chris Beatty, the wide receivers coach. Beatty previously coached the same position with the Chargers from 2021 to 2023. Last season, Allen had an outstanding performance, catching a career-high 108 passes. He recorded the second-best stats of his 11-year career with 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns. This marked the sixth time in Allen's career that he surpassed 1,000 receiving yards.

The Chicago Bears have reshuffled their draft strategy following the trade of one of their two fourth-round picks (No. 110) to the Chargers, which now leaves them with four picks remaining (Nos. 1, 9, 75, and 122 via Philadelphia). Bears' general manager Ryan Poles expressed considerable enthusiasm about the acquisition of Keenan Allen, highlighting Allen's illustrious track record and anticipating his significant impact on their offensive dynamics.

Allen, who has been the beneficiary of passes from Justin Herbert over the past four seasons, faces the adjustment of working with a new quarterback in 2024. With incumbent Bears quarterback Justin Fields entering his fourth NFL season and the strong possibility of selecting USC's Caleb Williams as the No. 1 draft pick, speculation abounds regarding potential offseason trades involving Fields. However, as free agency approaches its conclusion, Fields, aged 25, remains firmly entrenched in the Bears' roster, with over a month remaining until the draft.

Bears coach Matt Eberflus has emphasized the pressing need to fortify their wide receiver corps, particularly following the departure of Darnell Mooney to the Atlanta Falcons. The addition of Allen significantly bolsters Chicago's receiving options, given his remarkable season featuring 100 receptions, placing him squarely among the NFL's elite.

Allen's unexpected departure from the Chargers carries weight, considering his extensive tenure with the team and his notable contributions both on and off the field. Chargers owner Dean Spanos expressed heartfelt gratitude for Allen's profound impact on the organization. Despite Allen's expressed desire to remain in Los Angeles, changes in Chargers' leadership, including the departure of the general manager who originally drafted him, culminated in Allen's eventual departure.

With Allen's absence, the Chargers now turn their attention to Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston as their top receivers. Holding the No. 5 pick in the upcoming draft, they may consider selecting a receiver given the abundance of talent available in that position.

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The Bears secure the services of wide receiver Keenan Allen from the Chargers in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick.

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