The nightmare that was the 2024 Chicago Bears season is over. Before the transactional period starts and the roster changes begin, we will recap the seasons of most of the 53-man roster. Next up: We’re looking at the 2024 season of wide receiver Keenan Allen.
Keenan Allen’s 2024 Snapshot
Keenan Allen finished the season with 70 receptions, 744 yards, and seven touchdowns on 117 targets. Despite being the Bears’ second-leading receiver and touchdown leader, 2024 was a down year for the veteran wide receiver. Allen’s time with the Bears started rocky as he missed a pair of games with a heel injury, being force-fed the football when he was playing, and having too many drops. As the season progressed, he settled into the Bears offense and became a weapon for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
Except for 2022, when he was limited to 10 games with an injury, Allen has logged 97+ receptions in each season since 2017 โ which is when he emerged as the Chargers’ No. 1 wide receiver with 102 catches, 1,393 yards, and six scores. During that span, Allen has missed the 1,000-yard mark only twice. Once in 2020, when he finished with 992 receiving yards, and in 2022 when he had 752 yards in 10 games.
Even while Allen became a regular target for Williams, he was being used differently in that Bears offense than before. Allen, known as one of the league’s best slot receivers and short-yardage separators, took only 54.2 percent of his snaps out of the slot. Comparatively, 59 percent of Allen’s snaps were out of the slot in 2023 with the Chargers, and he was up to 64.6 (2022) and 62.6 (2021) in previous seasons.
Allen spent more time outside this season; his average target depth was the highest since 2019, and his drop percentage was the highest of his career this year. If Chicago runs it back with Allen โ who already said he’ll only play next season in Chicago or Los Angeles โ the new coaching staff needs to ensure he will be deployed in the position that fits his skillset best.
By the Numbers
- Receptions: 70
- Targets: 117
- Receiving Yards: 744
- Yards Per Reception: 10.6
- Touchdowns: 7
Contract Status
Allen will become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins on March 12.
Turning the Page
Allen’s first season in Chicago was mainly enjoyable, and considering the misuse of his skillset in the offense, there was plenty of meat left on the bone and plenty of reason to be interested in a potential second look at Allen in Chicago next season.
Allen will turn 33 in April and has made it clear that he’s playing for the Bears or heading back home to Los Angeles to play for either the Chargers or Rams. When Allen was traded to the Bears last spring, he opted not to move his wife and kids to Chicago. When asked earlier this month, Allen said he would at least consider moving the family to Chicago for another season with the Bears.
The question isn’t whether Allen would be valuable to the Bears’ offense next season, but rather what price would make it worth it for Chicago to pay for another season of his services. Allen made $23.1 million in 2024, which accounted for 8.9 percent of the Bears salary cap.
Spotrac has Allen’s calculated market value listed at $16 million annually for next year. If the Bears could land Allen for two years at $31.9 million ($15.96 million AAC), that would work for me. It would be a pay cut for Allen, but not drastic enough to make him head back to Los Angeles (unless one of those teams decides to overpay).