Keenan Allen Solidifies the Bears as an Offensive Team
Chicago has added another star receiver and assembled probably the best collection of offensive talent in franchise history. We take a look at what might be next in the draft and over the rest of the offseason.
The Chicago Bears continued boosting their offensive core by trading a fourth-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers for wide receiver Keenan Allen. LA has lost several significant players and might not be done shedding talent.
Chicago comes out as a winner, using their ample cap space to acquire Allen at a relatively low draft cost. They might restructure and/or extend him to make the cap hit more manageable if needed, but the on-field ramifications are huge.
Allen and D.J. Moore, acquired via trade last offseason, project as one of the best receiving duos in the league. With the Bears likely to draft a quarterback first overall, it will be the second straight year the team makes major imports to the offense.
So, what’s next for the Bears? Let’s take a closer look at what this trade means for the roster, how the team might attack the draft, and any moves likely to come next.
Offensive Talent
Last offseason, the Bears added Moore via trade, guard Nate Davis in free agency, and right tackle Darnell Wright through the draft. The team has now acquired Allen through trade and running back D'Andre Swift in free agency in the first few days of the 2024 league year.
The team has made a concerted effort to upgrade the offensive talent after bottoming out in 2022. With the expected injection of a top quarterback prospect (we’ll just assume Caleb Williams for now), Chicago looks like one of the most improved teams in the league.
Williams is seen as a generational prospect, a guy who should be a league-average quarterback right away, especially surrounded by talent. Allen is one of the best receivers of the last decade; he can only help the development of a young QB.
Allen had the most receptions, second-most yards, and third-most touchdowns of his career in 2023 despite playing only 13 games. While he turns 32 before the season starts, he has been very consistent when on the field.
He has played just 23 games over the last two seasons, and older receivers who get injured generally aren’t a great bet, but Allen doesn’t have to be a star in his prime; he just needs to show his old form on third downs and in the red zone and provide a veteran presence on the offense. Allen is coming in as Chicago’s WR2, a role he’s more than qualified to fill.
Draft Plan
Many mock drafts were projecting the Bears to take a wide receiver with their own pick in the first round (ninth overall). Malik Nabers from LSU and Washington’s Rome Odunze are seen as top-10 talents who would have fit the roster.
They could still think about a receiver, as Allen should be expected to decline, even if he retains a high level of play. There are a few other directions they could go that would fill more immediate needs, though:
- Left Tackle: Notre Dame’s Joe Alt and Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu project as franchise left tackles, guys who could be top-five picks in a year without so many good quarterbacks. Chicago has a serviceable option in Braxton Jones, a fifth-round pick in 2022 who has held down the blindside on a good offensive line. A game-changing tackle would allow Jones to bump inside, upgrading multiple spots, and Jones would be a great backup option in case of injury or the rookie struggling.
- Defense: The top of this draft class is made up of mostly offensive players, with mock drafts seeing very little defense in the top 10, so it’s conceivable Chicago could choose at No. 9 with no defensive players off the board. In that case, they could take a top pass rusher, like Alabama’s Dallas Turner, or cornerback, like Alabama’s Terrion Arnold (there are a lot of Alabama players again).
- Brock Bowers: Bowers is a top-10 prospect according to most analysts, but the Georgia tight end might drop due to his position not being highly valued. The Bears just signed Cole Kmet to an extension recently, meaning the position isn’t a need. If Bowers is there at the ninth pick, Chicago could add another top offensive talent and figure out the rest later.
- Trade Down: This might be the best plan. Chicago’s top-10 pick might be highly sought after if Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy is available and a team wants to pounce. Picking up a 2025 first would be great, but even regaining a second-round pick after trading one for Montez Sweat at the deadline would be a good haul.
Next Moves?
The offseason is far from over; the draft is over a month away. The defense has good starters but could use depth. The Bears have just four picks in the draft currently, though they are all in the first four rounds (No. 1, 9, 75, and 122).
Multiple trades down would be needed if the team wants to refill the coffers, but Chicago might be happy to add the players they already have and make their few choices to fill cracks or grab players with potential. We probably won’t know which way they will go until draft night.
They still have cap space if they want to add players, but the roster is in good shape right now and probably won’t see many big changes outside of the draft. Justin Fields is likely to be traded, but that situation could play out during the draft and even into the summer if the team is comfortable waiting for the most value.
Other than Fields heading out and Williams stepping in at quarterback, there aren’t a lot of obvious moves for the team to make. We have probably seen the last of the big moves outside of the quarterback position and draft.
Conclusion
The Bears have greatly improved their roster over the last two offseasons. The offense went from being devoid of talent to having a solid player at every position, and this team looks ready to compete for a playoff spot.
The acquisition of Allen opens Chicago’s possibilities, as they can look to add an impact player on the offensive line or on defense rather than focusing on more skill players (an area they have hit hard).
The draft and eventual Fields trade will bring more excitement, but we might be done with big moves in the meantime. The Bears are in a great place; an ascending team with a potential star quarterback joining the fray means this team has pieces in place to contend for the playoffs this year and into the future.
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