Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles believes wide receiver Keenan Allen is “an absolute perfect fit” for his team, according to Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune.
“I don’t think there’s a better receiver in the league that can be better for a young quarterback in terms of understanding the NFL, timing, space, reading defenses,” Poles said.
The Bears acquired Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers for a fourth-round pick in March. The veteran wideout had spent his entire 11-year career with the Chargers after the club selected him in the third round of the 2013 draft.
Allen has been a quarterback’s best friend since entering the league. Only five pass-catchers have more receiving yards since 2013, and he’s showed no signs of slowing down. He racked up 1,243 yards in only 13 contests last campaign – the most he’s had in a single year since 2017.
The 32-year-old will join star wideout D.J. Moore, who set career highs in yards and receptions last year.
“It balances the field with D.J. on the other side, Cole (Kmet) and (Gerald) Everett at tight end, (D’Andre) Swift at running back. We have a lot of really cool things that can get going and allow us to be dynamic and really special.”
Allen is entering the final year of the four-year, $80-million extension he signed in 2020. Poles said an agreement to keep Allen in Chicago beyond the 2024 season might come “down the road.”
“We’ll review that and see what our order looks like. But for what he stands for, I would love to have him long term.”
The 2024 NFL Draft kicks off on April 25 with the Bears owning the No. 1 selection.
