Former Cal WR Keenan Allen Traded to Bears

Allen led the NFL in receptions per game in 2023 for the Chargers

The Chicago Bears pulled off a significant trade by acquiring former Cal wide receiver Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers, who received a fourth-round draft pick in the trade, according to multiple reports on Thursday.

Giving up a fourth-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft does not seem like much of a price to pay for Allen, who was named to the Pro Bowl for the sixth time this past season when he had a career-high 108 receptions for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns despite missing four games. He ranked first in the NFL in catches per game (8.31), and he was fourth in receiving yards per game.

Allen reportedly had been approached by the Chargers about taking a pay cut, a proposal that Allen declined. That presumably led to the trade. The Chargers reportedly requested the pay cut from Allen because they were on the hook for a $34.7 million cap hit under Allen's current contract.

Allen will turn 32 years old next month, but he is coming off one of his most productive seasons.  He has been named to the Pro Bowl five of the past six years, the only exception being 2022 when he missed seven games with injuries.

The bigger question in Chicago is who will be throwing the passes to Allen.

Justin Fields was the Bears' starting quarterback this past season, but they have the No. 1 overall pick in a draft filled with NFL-caliber quarterbacks. The Bears went 5-8 in Fields' 13 starts in 2023 and he ranked 24th in the NFL in passer rating.  However, he offers a running threat. He rushed for 657 yards in 2023 and 1,143 yards in 2022.

Allen played three seasons at Cal from 2010 through 2012, and he finished with 205 career receptions for 2,570 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns.  He also rushed for 230 yards and two touchdowns and returned 21 punts and 18 kickoffs. Allen returned one punt for a touchdown.

Cover photo of Keenan Allen by Nathan Ray Seebeck, USA TODA. He rushed for Y Sports

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