While Cooper Kupp, Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs and DeAndre Hopkins are off the market, three accomplished 30-somethings remain available at wide receiver. Amari Cooper, Tyler Lockett and Keenan Allen are still unattached. Allen looks to be in play for a reunion, despite a 2024 Chargers divorce.
Jim Harbaugh said (via The Athletic’s Daniel Popper) at the league meetings the Chargers and Allen renewing their partnership “would be cool,” labeling another agreement as possible. Even after reuniting with Mike Williams, the Chargers look to have a need at receiver alongside new No. 1 target Ladd McConkey.
Allen did not exactly leave Los Angeles on good terms, having been blindsided by the team’s pay-cut request — as the team attempted to reach cap compliance, in an effort that included Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack pay reductions — and then traded to the Bears for a fourth-round pick. But the 12-year veteran, who sits behind only Antonio Gates in Bolts history in receptions and receiving yards, was believed to be amenable to a Chargers return. Late last season, a report emerged tying Allen only to a return to Chicago, L.A. or retirement. No close connections between Allen and another team have surfaced, even though the Broncos were mentioned as a potential fit.
The Rams filled their WR need by replacing Kupp with Adams, and the Bears did not make a known effort to re-sign the 2024 trade pickup before he hit free agency. Allen is going into an age-33 season, winding down a quality career that has included six 1,000-yard seasons — including 1,243 in 2023. The crafty route runner is coming off a 744-yard year despite being on a team that trudged through a turbulent year on offense.
It is worth wondering if Allen would make sense on the current Bolts, as McConkey took over as a promising slot receiver. Allen has functioned inside and outside during his career, but Popper notes the Chargers would benefit more from an outside player who could create space for McConkey. Citing the team’s current WR makeup, Popper doubts the Chargers would pay Allen a deal beyond $10MM per year. Allen signed two Bolts extensions (in 2016 and 2020) respectively worth $11.3MM and $20MM per annum. After not parting on the best of terms, it would be interesting to see if the former Chargers WR1 would consider a return at a significantly reduced rate.
Though, Allen likely would not command much more elsewhere due to teams turning their attention to the draft by this point. Allen and Lockett are unlikely to fetch the guarantees Adams ($26MM), Kupp ($17.5MM) and Diggs ($16.6MM) did. Both should find homes, should Allen want to keep playing, and it is worth noting Harbaugh described Justin Herbert as elated Williams was returning. Herbert was at the controls for two Allen 1,000-yard seasons, and it would make sense the QB would want him back as well. But the Chargers signing off on two 30-something WRs might be too much to ask.