Nearly a month away from the NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears made a big move that may signal their intentions with the No. 1 overall pick. On Thursday night, the Bears struck a deal with the Los Angeles Chargers. Chicago acquired star receiver Keenan Allen in exchange for a fourth-round pick.
At 31 years old, Allen finds himself in the final year of a four-year contract extension he inked back in 2020, with a looming $5 million roster bonus due on Sunday. Opting against accepting a salary reduction from the Chargers, Allen now finds himself poised for a fresh start with Chicago. Suddenly, Chicago has a lethal one-two punch at receiver with Allen and D.J. Moore.
Allen’s addition to Chicago’s offense should be a huge plus for the team. The veteran star is coming off a season in which he caught a career-high 108 passes for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns — numbers accomplished in just 13 games. The six-time Pro Bowler will also be reuniting with wide receivers coach Chris Beatty, who coached the same position with the Chargers from 2021 to 2023.
“We’re extremely excited to add Keenan to our team,” Bears general manager Ryan Poles said. “His body of work speaks for itself and we look forward to him elevating our offense.”
In addition to Allen, the Bears have signed a few other weapons to bolster the offense — running back D’Andre Swift and tight end Gerald Everett. The Bears appear to be loading up in preparation for the potential arrival of QB Caleb Williams.
