Keenan Allen worked out with the Chargers last week as the sides contemplate a reunion. No deal has been signed yet, but that will be the case if head coach Jim Harbaugh has his way. 
When speaking to the media on Monday, Harbaugh said (via ESPN’s Kris Rhim) Allen’s workout went well. He also noted his desire for a contract to be worked out in this case. Attention will thus turn to the efforts of Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz – who traded Allen away last spring – to finalize a pact.
The Bolts attempted to work out a pay cut with Allen in 2024 while the Harbaugh-Hortiz regime looked to make needed salary cap adjustments. In the end, Allen was dealt to the Bears while Mike Williams was released. Williams returned to Los Angeles but then elected to retire, leaving the door open to a veteran addition this summer. Harbaugh made it clear back in April he would welcome a second Allen tenure with the Chargers, so today’s comments come as little surprise.
Through the 2024 campaign and beyond, Allen has expressed a willingness to remain in Chicago or to return to Los Angeles. The Bears still have D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze, and the team added Luther Burden in the second round of the draft as a slot option for the present and future. Another Bears campaign is thus not expected, and little interest has been shown so far from other teams. With roughly $31.5MM in cap space, the Chargers could easily afford to bring Allen, 33, back into the fold.
Ladd McConkey enjoyed a stellar rookie season in 2024, and he figures to be a mainstay (particularly in the slot) for years to come. Allen is best suited to operate on the inside at this stage of his career, but the six-time Pro Bowler could of course also provide Justin Herbert with an experienced option on the perimeter. Especially given Williams’ decision to retire, the Chargers could stand to add a veteran presence at the WR spot.
Allen topped 1,000 yards six times during his Bolts tenure, including a career-best 1,243 in 2023. A repeat of that production would not be expected in the event a new Chargers deal were to be worked out, but one could still prove to be beneficial for both parties. It will be interesting to see if Harbaugh’s desire comes to pass in this situation.