Acquiring Keenan Allen instantly makes the Chicago Bears a better football team. Any time you can secure a six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver for your young quarterback, it's a good thing. Allen is one of the great technicians of the sport, so there is no reason to think he won't be productive in 2024. However, his future beyond that is a complete mystery. Not only is Allen turning 32 this year, but he is also in the last season of his contract. That means the Bears have no guarantees of him sticking around.
Allen has said he is open to an extension, but talks haven't begun on that front. What isn't clear is what exactly he'd be looking for. According to Daniel Popper of The Athletic, it might be more than the Bears are willing to pay. It seems the Los Angeles Chargers approached the star receiver about reworking his contract to help their salary cap situation. That included talks of an extension. Allen didn't seem interested in the options available, which led to the trade.
This would indicate that his money demands are higher than those of a player his age generally receives. If so, it puts the Bears in an awkward spot. It seems unlikely Poles would pay huge money to a player in his 30s. This is why the ongoing rumors about them taking a wide receiver at #9 overall continue gaining momentum.
The Bears have to think beyond Keenan Allen.
There is no question the wide receiver will help them this year. Presuming Caleb Williams is the pick at #1, he and D.J. Moore should make for an excellent combination a rookie quarterback can lean on. However, GM Ryan Poles has to think about the future. The best way to secure it would be by taking one of the top receivers with the 9th pick. The odds are that either Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze will be available at that spot. Either would be an excellent addition to the offense. If Allen chose to make his contract demands high, the Bears could let him walk in 2025, choosing to move forward with Moore and their 1st round pick as the primary two targets.
Presuming Keenan Allen signs a nice deal elsewhere next year, the Bears would likely receive a compensatory pick for the 2026 draft. That is part of playing the market. Chicago may wish to keep Allen beyond one year, but they won't do it to the detriment of their long-term salary cap flexibility. If there is a sense contract talks will be difficult, don't be surprised if Poles grabs a receiver at #9. It would give him instant leverage against anything Allen tries while also securing his team's long-term future.
