The Los Angeles Chargers have made quite a flurry of cost-saving moves this offseason that have left many wondering how good the 2024 team will be. While superstar pass rusher Joey Bosa has opened up $10 million of cap space by restructuring his deal, the Chargers needed to part ways with some of their best players in order to get under the salary cap.
This resulted in the release of wide receiver Mike Williams, who has since signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets. Additionally, the Chargers traded Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears, effectively breaking up one of the best one-two pass catching combinations in the NFL. According to a report by The Athletic, however, the trade with Chicago was not the avenue Los Angeles wanted to pursue.
The Los Angeles Chargers Wanted to Extend Keenan Allen Prior to Trade with Chicago Bears
Los Angeles Chargers, Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) dances after catching a touchdown pass against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, November 19, 2023, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won the game, 23-20.
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
According to the report, written by Daniel Popper and The Athletic Staff, Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz is quoted as saying:
“With Keenan, we approached multiple different options with him and just none of them worked out, and we had an offer for him the day we traded him.
“When I say multiple options, we talked about multiple options with him. So you can read into that what you want. But yeah, there was extensions, there was everything. We kind of went down every path, and in the end, this was the one that fit us best and fit him best.”
Allen has a $18.1 million base salary this year and a $5 million roster bonus, good for a cap hit of $23.1 million. Now the Bears shoulder that load for the six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver.
The Athletic report also states that the Chargers had asked Allen about taking a pay cut to lesson his cap hit, but the wide receiver refused to do so.
Los Angeles ended up trading Allen to the Bears for a fourth round pick.
Los Angeles Chargers, Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears
Nov 12, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) makes a catch against Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) )during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
The biggest question, however, is whether or not the trade of Allen really was best for both parties. As it turns out, it very well might be. Allen put up 108 receptions, 1,243 yards, and seven touchdowns in just 13 games last season; but he is entering his age 32 season. While dynamic when healthy, he has only played a full season’s worth of games four times in his 11-year career. The chances of him doing so as he gets older are even more slim.
With this in mind, the trade is certainly beneficial for Los Angeles, who shed $23.1 million off their cap in 2024 and are not tied to an aging wide receiver with massive future cap hits. Of course, they also have an additional fourth round draft pick to show for it.
The Bears, however, benefit as well. Even though they do not have a quarterback yet (it will most likely be Caleb Williams, the projected first overall pick), they are steadily building what is sure to be one of the most improved offenses in the NFL. They already have DJ Moore and a revamped offensive line. Additionally, Cole Kmet is one of the most intriguing pass-catching tight ends in the league.
Adding Allen to this mix gives whoever is under center (Williams) just another big, experienced target. The fact of the matter is that anyone that Chicago might have used that fourth round pick on was likely not going to bring to the team what Allen does, at least not this season.
