General manager Ryan Poles did it again, taking a big swing in the trade market to get the Chicago Bears an established veteran at a premium position.
The Bears sent a fourth-round pick — No. 110 — to the Los Angeles Chargers for wide receiver Keenan Allen on Thursday night. The 31-year-old had 108 catches for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games last season and made his sixth Pro Bowl.
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“We’re extremely excited to add Keenan to our team,” Poles said in a statement. “His body of work speaks for itself and we look forward to him elevating our offense.”
Allen steps in as a starting receiver alongside DJ Moore and immediately eliminates the pressing need at the position. For now.
The 2024 season is the final one in Allen’s contract. He rejected an offer to take a pay cut from the team that drafted him in 2013 and will now play on a new team for the first time in his NFL career.
Fishbain: For anyone who has watched how Poles has operated over the past couple of years, this shouldn’t be surprising. When he sees an opportunity to add a playmaker, he’ll do it, and he knows that the hit rate can be better in the trade market than free agency — Chase Claypool notwithstanding. In Allen, the Bears get a known commodity, a player with a decade’s worth of tape, not to mention a 1,200-yard season in 2023 at 31 years old. His position coach from the past three years, Chris Beatty, is here. There are fewer questions. He and DJ Moore should be an outstanding duo, and it gives the Bears a lot of flexibility with the No. 9 pick. Let’s get to that in a bit, but Jahns, what was your initial reaction to the move?
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Jahns: It was … the Bears are creating the best situation they possibly can for their next quarterback: USC’s Caleb Williams. I know, I know, I know. The same applies to Justin Fields. He’s still technically QB1 for the Bears. But if you’re building around Fields, you’re also technically building around his potential replacement. Allen’s acquisition follows the additions of center Coleman Shelton, tight end Gerald Everett and running back D’Andre Swift. Allen’s star power matters, too. I don’t think we’ve overvaluing it, either. Just look at the reactions on social media from his new Bears teammates. Players know. But if you had to list any negatives about the move, you obviously start with Allen’s age and durability.
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Fishbain: Yes, Allen has played a full season only twice in the last five years. Yes, he turns 32 next month. But he proved last season just how skilled he still is. He had 150 targets and caught 72 percent of them, the third-best rate of his career. He had a career-high 95.6 receiving yards per game. Allen might not be the exact same player he was earlier in his career, but he’s still a massive upgrade. Sure, there’s risk, especially considering his injury history, but this isn’t a five-year, $100 million contract they’re handing out. They’re paying for a 2023 Pro Bowler who, by the way, had eight catches for 69 yards against this defense last October. Everyone wanted the Bears to use their cap space. I think this is a fine way to spend it.
keeeeeeeeeeeenan ‼️ pic.twitter.com/7mBNatHjZ6
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) March 15, 2024
Jahns: It really is. And all it cost was a fourth-round pick. I know, I know, I know. Draft capital is important, it’s a deep year at receiver in the draft and the Bears still have concerns elsewhere on their roster. But Allen will provide Williams with more in his rookie season than any fourth-round selection would. Allen is not a rookie learning on the job. He is an established veteran with Pro Bowl clout who has played with Justin Herbert and Philip Rivers. On and off the field, Williams would benefit from having Allen on his team. We’re also not talking about Velus Jones and Tyler Scott needing to contribute more during the 2024 season. Instead, we get to point out that the Bears now have one of the best slot receivers in the NFL in Allen.
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Fishbain: I’ve often been of the mind that it’s OK to forfeit draft picks for established talent. The Bears were not taking someone in Round 4 who would’ve been of the caliber of Allen. And even if you want to argue that this hypothetical player could’ve developed into a longer-term fixture, what’s that hit rate? This is a good time to remember that Poles made 21 draft picks in the past two seasons. Of those 21, 17 are still on the team, and several look like foundational pieces. Speaking of the draft, let’s wrap here — what does this mean for what the Bears can do at No. 9?
Jahns: It means that if Washington’s Rome Odunze and LSU’s Malik Nabers are drafted before the Bears’ No. 9 pick, they can comfortably and confidently look at the best offensive tackles and best pass rushers. It means that Poles can continue to invest in other premium positions through the draft. And it means that Poles won’t feel pressured to pick for roster needs, which could open the door for more trade-back opportunities if the Bears’ board tells him to do so. Allen obviously isn’t a long-term answer for the Bears at receiver. But in the short term, his place on the roster strengthens a position that needed to be before arguably the most important draft in Bears history.
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(Photo: Harry How / Getty Images)