Chargers News: Rival's Fresh Contract With WR May Have Established Price For Keenan Allen

Is he worth it?

After cutting ties with Eric Kendricks, your Los Angeles Chargers remain $25.6 million over the NFL’s expected salary cap for the 2024 NFL season. LA will need to cut its cap obligations by at least another $20 million heading into the year.

Given that they finished 5-12 last season, it would behoove the Bolts to ensure they’re not unnecessarily blowing that kind of cash on their current underachieving roster. With new general manager Joe Hortiz and new head coach Jim Harbaugh now in charge of the club’s team building, it makes sense to expect the team to make tactical moves in prepping for the impending year.

One of the most intriguing questions for LA has long been how it will opt to operate with six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen.

Now, thanks to the signing of a rival wideout, Hortiz should at least have a better sense of how much it might cost to hold on to Allen.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just inked star wide receiver Mike Evans to a two-season contract worth $52 million.

Buccaneers, WR Mike Evans agree to terms on a 2-year, $52 million deal. (via @MikeGarafolo) pic.twitter.com/aDMX3xiOam

— NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2024

If Los Angeles opts to sign the 31-year-old Allen to a contract extension this year, it would be able to transform a portion of his current $18.1 million base salary for 2024 into future bonus salary, which could help it save oodles of cash as it navigate this year’s cap.

The team could be looking at a two-year extension that would keep Allen under team control through 2026, his age-34 season, in the range of $40-50 million. With a deal in place, LA could defer some of his current dough into one of the future seasons on his deal.