The Chicago Bears were thrilled to get Keenan Allen when they did. GM Ryan Poles felt the team needed another reliable presence at wide receiver. The six-time Pro Bowler would make the perfect ally for a young quarterback. Pairing him with D.J. Moore was even better. That said, the trade came with two significant caveats. One is the fact Allen turns 32 this year. Players entering their 30s tend to become risky investments due to increased health concerns. Another is that 2024 is the final year of his current contract.
Poles did say he absolutely welcomes the idea of keeping Allen beyond this season. An extension is on the docket. The receiver himself said he’d welcome the same. So what’s the problem? What it always is: the price tag. It wasn’t known how much money Allen might be seeking in any extension. That changed with the release of a new article by ESPN’s Kris Rhim. Based on his findings, the star receiver wasn’t easing up on his demands, which led the Chargers to decide to trade him.
IN THE DAYS following the NFL combine, the Chargers asked Allen to take a pay cut similar to that of Mack and Bosa, though Allen’s included a two-year extension with an average salary of less than his base $18 million, according to sources close to the negotiation.
Two days later, Allen’s team proposed a multiyear counteroffer that would have made Allen among the league’s highest-paid receivers, but it was summarily rejected, according to multiple sources close to the negotiations.
There were deals around the NFL that set a framework for what Allen could potentially net, such as 29-year-old Calvin Ridley, who signed a four-year, $92 million contract with the Tennessee Titans.
Chicago holds the #9 pick. Most experts believe at least one of the top three wide receivers in this class, all of whom are considered blue-chip prospects, will be available at that spot. The conundrum for the Bears was whether they should grab one of them or focus on other positions like edge rusher or offensive tackle. If Allen plans to dig his heels in on making himself one of the highest-paid receivers in the league at age 32, it is hard to imagine Poles entertaining that idea. That would motivate him to take a receiver at #9, ensuring he’d have two high-caliber talents for his quarterback should Allen leave in free agency next spring.
Salary cap expert Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus was quick to point out that those reported demands aren’t out of the ordinary. Player representatives always come in high.
One of the reasons Keenan Allen was so caught off guard by the trade is that the Chargers didn’t even bother negotiating. Once it became clear he’d resist their demands for a pay cut, they threw in the towel. The Bears are likely at least to have open communication with him and his agent. This could lead to a compromise that gets him another healthy payday while making sure not to hurt the team’s cap flexibility. If not, then we can safely guess what the Bears will do next month.
