NEWSLETTER
Keenan Allen’s Bears tenure didn’t get off to the greatest start. It wasn’t really any doing of his own doing, but he’s a 32-year-old wide receiver who’s in Year 12 in the NFL and his body was catching up to him a bit. He played in Week 1 against Tennesee but didn’t look right. He then missed the Bears matchups in Weeks 2 and 3 with a foot injury, and it started to feel like his time here would be short-lived, injury-filled, and underwhelming.
I’m so happy to have been wrong.
While Keenan Allen is most certainly not playing like the All-Pro wideout he was in his prime, he has shown he can still be solid as he’s gotten healthier and is proving to be a fantastic option for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. On top of that, Allen has been a great resource in the receiver room. So much so that Chris Beatty (now serving as the offensive coordinator after Thomas Brown’s promotion to interim head coach) told reporters (h/t Barroom Network) that Allen has replaced him as the WRs Coach.
Given this bit of perspective, I was thrilled to hear Keenan Allen say to the media that he “absolutely” wanted to be back next season:
"Talking with DJ (Moore) today, he wants me to run it back."
When asked if he wants to 'run it back', Keenan Allen replied, 'Yeah, absolutely'. pic.twitter.com/OwTDYOCa2f— Marquee Bears (@BearsMarquee) December 5, 2024
This is a worthwhile exchange between Allen and a reporter in the Bears locker room (via Marquee):
Allen: “Talking with DJ today, he wants me to run it back.”
Reporter: “Do you want to run it back?”
Allen: “Yeah. Absolutely.”
Keenan Allen saying he wants to be back next season is a great sign. First off, he’s a 32-year-old on the back nine of his career and has never won a Super Bowl. Those are the types of players who tend to want to play in situations they believe will give them a chance to win one. Allen doesn’t have many seasons left in this league, and the fact he wants to play them in Chicago suggests he thinks they’re close.
It also indicates to me that he also believes in the quarterback. Thankfully, I don’t have to speculate about that because he told us yesterday flat-out how high he is on Caleb Williams.
You mean to tell me a coveted free-agent-to-be wide receiver WANTS to play with a BEARS quarterback?! Next you’re going to tell me that the Detroit Lions are the class of the NFC and own the Green Bay Packers! Wait…
But seriously, seeing what Allen had to say yesterday brought me back to a positive place regarding this season. Keeping Matt Eberflus was the wrong decision. It was a disaster and it never should have happened. Ditto for the hiring of Shane Waldron. Having said that, Caleb Williams has played the best football since Thomas Brown took over playcalling duties. And Keenan Allen has started to hit his stride in the same span.
I know I picked the Bears to finish 12-5 this year (for the second straight season, sorry I get caught up in the excitement) but the ultimate goal this year was always to start Caleb’s career off on the right path, surround him with everything he needs, and get his development going in the right direction. While that path was certainly rocky at first, it is hard to argue we’re not on our way to accomplishing those goals. And while more money could have been allocated to building up the offensive line in the offseason, it is hard to say that Keenan Allen hasn’t played a big role in Williams’ surge since Brown took over play-calling.
I also believe that while General Manager Ryan Poles thought the team was ready to take a step forward this season, he likely also knew there was probably one more offseason needed to get them ready to compete for a division title. I think he knew wide receiver and offensive line were the biggest needs last offseason, and improving at wide receiver was the route that presented itself.
Finally, while we knew this offensive line wasn’t going to be a great one, not many expected them to be a “worst group in the NFL” unit, but more like a middle of the pack unit. Not great, but serviceable enough for one more year. I would also argue that since Waldron got booted and Thomas Brown took over the offensive line has looked much more like an acceptable unit, though by no means a great one. But that’s a post for a different day.
What Does A Keenan Allen Extension Look Like
This shouldn’t be all that tricky. Allen isn’t getting a long, multi-year deal anywhere anymore. He’s a very good player, but as mentioned earlier, he is in the waning years of his career and has had his fair share of injury issues over the last few seasons.
Mike Evans last year signed a two-year, $41 million contract extension to stay with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Evans is a year younger than Allen, and has been healthier (and more productive) over the past three seasons. If Evans received two years and $29 million guaranteed, it feels reasonable for Allen’s contract to be similar. Perhaps around two years and around $27 million with all the guaranteed money running out after year one.
It might seem a little steep, but Keenan Allen has proven to be very valuable for Caleb Williams and this offense. Allen is incredibly valuable in the receiver room and his value hasn’t just been as a veteran leader. The production has been there lately, even if it is not to the level we saw while he was in his prime. But you can’t tell me in the last two games against Minnesota and Detroit he wasn’t a massive part of the offense’s success.
Bears GM Ryan Poles certainly needs to make the trenches his top priority this offseason. No doubt about it. But that is another reason why I think bringing Keenan Allen back on a short-term deal makes sense. At a minimum, it crosses one more item off your list that you don’t have to go out and find.
Keenan Allen wanting to be in Chicago next season means something. It means he believes in the quarterback, the offense, and this team’s direction. And that is something he actually said, not something we’re speculating. There aren’t many times in my Bears fandom that a highly-respected veteran has said that and truly meant it. Hopefully, there’s a fair deal to be made for both sides this winter and Allen can be a part of helping this offense grow together and get where they want to be.
