Mar 15, 2024 - Sports

Chicago Bears snag Keenan Allen in blockbuster trade

Justin Kaufmann

Photo of a football player. — Keenan Allen #13 of the Los Angeles Chargers lines up against the Packers in Green Bay, Wisconsin on Nov. 19, 2023. Photo: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

The Chicago Bears pulled off a huge trade acquiring Chargers Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen for a fourth-round draft pick, according to the team.

The big picture: It's a splashy move for a position that Bears head coach Matt Eberflus says has lacked depth. Allen is a six-time Pro Bowl selection who's coming off a season where he amassed over 1,200 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

The Bears gave up a fourth-round pick for Allen, leaving them with just four picks in next month's draft.

By the numbers: Allen has caught over 100 passes five times in the last seven years.

Allen has one year left on his contract, which will pay him $18.1 million this season, plus a $5 million roster bonus.

State of play: The 32-year-old was reportedly asked to take a pay cut to stay with the Chargers, but refused. He now joins D.J. Moore in Chicago to form the best wide receiver tandem in the NFC North.

He is also reuniting with his former coach Chris Beatty, who joined the Bears this offseason as the wide receivers coach.

The intrigue: It's still unclear who will be throwing Allen the ball. The Bears hold the No. 1 overall pick in next month's draft and are likely to pick USC quarterback Caleb Williams, trading current starter Justin Fields.

Yes, but: The market for Fields hasn't materialized and he has yet to be traded.

The bottom line: The Bears have significantly upgraded their offensive weapons, hoping to make a playoff run next season.

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Chicago Bears snag Keenan Allen in blockbuster trade

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