NFL gamers trying to find an enormous payday shouldn’t eradicate any potential suitors. That would solely drive down the asking value.
Nonetheless, veteran vast receiver Keenan Allen seems content material with out one other massive contract. He not too long ago revealed that he can solely see himself enjoying for 3 groups in 2025 — and all three of these groups play in cities the place he has beforehand performed.
Keenan Allen Needs To Play in Chicago or Los Angeles
Allen is ready to be an unrestricted free agent in March after suiting up for the Chicago Bears after 11 seasons enjoying for the Chargers (4 in San Diego and 7 in Los Angeles).
Whereas there are many WR-needy groups that would use a veteran contributor like Allen this offseason, it doesn’t sound just like the 32-year-old will contemplate many groups. He informed Marquee Sports activities Community’s Scott Bair that he needs to play in both Chicago or Los Angeles subsequent season.
“I spoke to Keenan Allen close to final season’s finish, and he’s open to the prospect of a return to the Bears,” Bair wrote. “That was clearly earlier than Ben Johnson acquired employed, and I’d count on his addition solely strengthened Allen’s resolve.
“He stated he’d prefer to play in Los Angeles or Chicago, narrowing focus to 3 groups.”
Allen started his NFL profession as a third-round choose for the Chargers within the 2013 NFL Draft. On the time, the Chargers nonetheless performed in San Diego, however apparently Allen didn’t thoughts the transfer to Los Angeles.
In response to Bair, Allen is open to returning to town even when it means enjoying for the Los Angeles Rams. After the Rams commerce Cooper Kupp this offseason, might they signal Allen as his alternative?
In 15 video games with the Bears throughout 2024, Allen had 70 catches for 744 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. Allen solely averaged 10.6 yards per catch, however he was all the time extra of a possession receiver. He hasn’t posted greater than a 13.7 yards-per-reception common since his rookie season.
Final fall, Allen eclipsed the 11,000-yard mark for his profession. He’ll enter the 2025 season simply 26 receptions shy of 1,000.
How A lot Will It Price the Bears To Deliver Again Allen?
Allen is ready to show 33 in April. Though he’s nonetheless productive, the 2024 marketing campaign was the primary time Allen failed to achieve 800 yards when enjoying 15+ video games.
Allen, although, didn’t obtain as many targets as he has been accustomed to in his profession due to fellow receivers D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze. However that doesn’t imply Allen gained’t have worth to the Bears in 2025. Any veteran move catcher may very well be useful to Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams’ improvement.
Williams completed his rookie marketing campaign ranked thirty third in PFSN’s QB+ metric. He earned a D grade of 63.2. Allen will not be as explosive as he as soon as was, however he was arguably the very best route runner on the Bears’ roster in 2024, which may very well be essential to Williams’ improvement.
In response to @ScottBairNFL, Keenan Allen want to return to the Bears or play in Los Angeles
pic.twitter.com/WL2FTomaii
— PFSN (@PFN365) February 14, 2025
“Operating it again with Allen, D.J. Moore, and Rome Odunze seems like a strong choice,” Bair wrote. “The Bears can spend on Allen with their present cap area. If the objective’s to make Williams comfy, protecting Allen appears prudent.”
Allen is at the moment the No. 27-ranked free agent in PFSN’s High 100 Free Agent Rankings. Right here’s what PFSN’s Ben Rolfe wrote about Allen’s upcoming free company: “After six Professional Bowl seasons in 11 years with the Chargers, Keenan Allen’s first 12 months with the Bears was significantly rockier.
“The veteran struggled to search out chemistry with Caleb Williams, averaging the bottom catch proportion (57.9%) and fewest yards per route (1.4) of his profession. Allen was additionally solely focused on 22% of his routes, the fewest since his rookie season in 2013. A stunning stage of red-zone manufacturing goosed his landing whole (seven), however that belies his precise affect within the Bears’ offense.
“Allen performed a lot of the Bears’ 12 personnel snaps alongside DJ Moore, which meant his enjoying time got here on the expense of first-round rookie Rome Odunze. It’s arduous to think about Allen remaining forward of Odunze on the depth chart if he returns, and he might select the cleaner route by shifting on completely.”
In PFSN’s Free Agent Rankings By Place, Allen is the third-best vast receiver accessible in free company this offseason behind solely Cincinnati Bengals star Tee Higgins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers vast receiver Chris Godwin. It seems Higgins will obtain the franchise tag, and there are rumors that Godwin will re-sign with Tampa Bay.
After Higgins, Godwin, and Allen, the next-best vast receivers accessible on this free-agent class are Amari Cooper (Buffalo Payments), Darius Slayton (New York Giants), Hollywood Brown (Kansas Metropolis Chiefs), Stefon Diggs (Houston Texans), Josh Palmer (Los Angeles Chargers), DeAndre Hopkins (Kansas Metropolis Chiefs), Mike Williams (Pittsburgh Steelers), Mack Hollins (Buffalo Payments), and Elijah Moore (Cleveland Browns).
Spotrac estimates Allen’s market worth this offseason to be about $22.2 million on a two-year contract. Protecting Allen till he’s simply shy of 35 isn’t as interesting as a one-year deal, but when Allen actually solely needs to play in Chicago or Los Angeles, his choices are restricted.
Maybe he’d be prepared to just accept much less cash to play in both Chicago or Los Angeles.
