The Chicago Bears have acquired wide receiver Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers for a 2024 fourth-round pick, the teams announced Thursday.
Allen declined to take a pay cut when asked by the Chargers on Thursday, leading to the trade, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The 31-year-old gives the Bears another quality receiver opposite D.J. Moore, who the team traded for last offseason. Chicago has been loading up on offensive weapons this week, signing former Philadelphia Eagles running back D’Andre Swift to a three-year deal and adding former Chargers tight end Gerald Everett on a two-year contract.
The biggest unknown is who’ll be Allen’s quarterback in Chicago. The Bears hold the No. 1 overall pick and have been linked to USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who’s projected to be the top player in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, the team still has former first-round signal-caller Justin Fields on the roster. Fields has been part of trade rumors but has yet to be moved.
Allen posted a career-high 108 receptions last season, while his 1,243 receiving yards were his most since 2017.
The six-time Pro Bowler’s future was one of Los Angeles’ biggest questions entering the offseason due to the team’s cap crunch. Allen was due $18.1 million in base salary and held a $34.7-million cap hit, per Over the Cap.
Veteran wide receiver Mike Williams was also a cap casualty, as he was released on Wednesday. Los Angeles’ offense next season will have a new identity without Allen, Williams, Everett, and running back Austin Ekeler, who signed with the Washington Commanders in free agency.
