The Bears were long-tipped to make a major trade to shake up their offense. Such a move finally materialized on Thursday, although it wasn’t quite what Chicagoans might’ve expected at the start of the offseason.
General manager Ryan Poles swung a major deal on Thursday, acquiring the services of six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen from the Chargers, per multiple reports.
Allen has quietly been one of the most productive wideouts of his era, reeling in 904 passes for 10,530 yards and 59 touchdowns in 11 seasons under the California sun.
At 31, Allen prepares for his first foray away from the golden California shores. Chicago figures to have gotten a whole lot stronger in the process, offering a first-rate pass-catcher for whoever is under center in the Windy City come the start of 2024.
So, which side made out with the better deal? The Sporting News takes a look at what Thursday’s swap does for both sides.
MORE: Bears acquire Keenan Allen from Chargers in exchange for fourth-round pick
Keenan Allen trade grades
Bears grade: B+
- Bears receive: WR Keenan Allen
At first glance, it feels as if the Monsters of the Midway made out like bandits with the Allen trade.
Allen is still among the most prolific receivers in the game, ranking second in receptions (904), fifth in receiving yards (10,530), and tied for eighth in receiving touchdowns (59) since making his debut back in 2013.
He’s shown no signs of stopping when healthy, either. Just last year, Allen was the 11th-best receiver in football by way of receiving yards (1,243).
At this point, Allen is a proven commodity at the professional level. If you give him targets, he will churn out yardage at a prodigious rate. Now, health isn’t a certainty for the soon-to-be 32-year-old. Allen missed four games last season, seven games the year before, and suffered some pretty severe ligament tears during his first few seasons in the league.
Nevertheless, with DJ Moore playing opposite him, Allen should be freed from the captivity of being a defense’s main coverage assignment. Couple that with the addition of 1,000-yard rusher D’Andre Swift, and there should be gobs of space for Allen to exploit.
Furthermore, it seems Poles and Co. are rolling out the red carpet for the Bears’ next QB, be it Caleb Williams or someone else. Chicago isn’t your typical snake-bitten franchise tasked with selecting first in the NFL draft, having finished 7-10 in 2023 — two games back of the wild-card clinching Packers. Adding Allen into the mix should fortify its offensive unit, giving it a better-attacking foundation as Matt Eberflus’ squad attempts to snatch a postseason golden ticket in 2024.
All of that for the No. 110 overall pick? That doesn’t sound like too bad of a return, all things considered.
Allen is due to make $23 million next season in his final year before free agency, so one can question the long-term value of this move, especially with a rookie QB likely taking over. It remains to be seen if Chicago can convince Allen to stick around for a reduced salary, but either way, they didn’t give up a ton to get him, and they might be able to recoup a similar pick at the trade deadline if things are going south.
NFL FREE AGENCY 2024: Live grades | Top 75 rankings
Chargers grade: C-
- Chargers receive: 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 110 overall)
The Bolts are a confounding bunch. After renegotiating deals with Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa to open up cap space, Los Angeles attempted to do the same with Allen, the franchise’s best-ever wideout. He was less-than-inclined to accept such a proposal, per reports, unwilling to budge on the $23.1 million he’s due in 2024.
With a new regime in place, spearheaded by general manager Joe Horitz and head coach Jim Harbaugh, it seems expectations were that the Chargers’ big-name talents would be willing to shell out money for the good of the team’s cap hit. Whether Allen — a player who has racked up catches and yardage even as L.A.’s has straddled from dark-horse Super Bowl contenders with Philip Rivers to sputtering schmucks under Brandon Staley — should have been forced to make such a calculation was irrelevant to the powers-that-be in the City of Angels.
Ultimately, Allen is an aging pass-catcher with a spotty injury record. Perhaps nabbing a fourth-round selection for their troubles was a smart bit of business for the Chargers. However, it has to leave a sour taste in Bolts’ fans’ mouths, especially considering the fanfare that shrouded the organization following Harbaugh’s arrival.
Still, the question remains: who is franchise QB Justin Herbert supposed to throw the ball to in the new year? He doesn’t have Allen, Austin Ekeler, Mike Williams, or Gerald Everett. Quentin Johnston was underwhelming in his maiden year in the league, while Josh Palmer is still a fairly unproven commodity. It seems as if the Bolts will take a wide receiver in the draft — be it Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, or Rome Odunze, but that’s a lot of pressure to put on a rookie wideout, even one with the sort of talent profiles of that trio.
All of that is to say, was the juice worth the squeeze? The Bolts certainly think so. However, cutting your all-time greatest receiver loose for a measly fourth-round selection doesn’t feel very forward-thinking, even if he is getting older.
Ultimately, the Chargers chose defense over offense this season, and they’re counting on Harbaugh and company to work their offensive magic like they did in San Francisco — only this time, they’re starting with a more-heralded QB.
