Monster of the midway
The Bears were long-tipped to make a major trade to shake up their offense.
Such a move finally materialized on Thursday, although it wasn’t quite what Chicagoans might’ve expected at the start of the offseason.
General manager Ryan Poles swung a major deal on Thursday, acquiring the services of six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen from the Chargers, per multiple reports.
Allen has quietly been one of the most productive wideouts of his era, reeling in 904 passes for 10,530 yards and 59 touchdowns in 11 seasons under the California sun.
At 31, Allen prepares for his first foray away from the golden California shores.
Chicago figures to have gotten a whole lot stronger in the process, offering a first-rate pass-catcher for whoever is under center in the Windy City come the start of 2024.
So, which side made out with the better deal? The Sporting News takes a look at what Thursday’s swap does for both sides.
At first glance, it feels as if the Monsters of the Midway made out like bandits with the Allen trade.
Allen is still among the most prolific receivers in the game, ranking second in receptions (904), fifth in receiving yards (10,530), and tied for eighth in receiving touchdowns (59) since making his debut back in 2013.
He’s shown no signs of stopping when healthy, either. Just last year, Allen was the 11th-best receiver in football by way of receiving yards (1,243).
At this point, Allen is a proven commodity at the professional level. If you give him targets, he will churn out yardage at a prodigious rate.
Now, health isn’t a certainty for the soon-to-be 32-year-old. Allen missed four games last season, seven games the year before, and suffered some pretty severe ligament tears during his first few seasons in the league.
Nevertheless, with DJ Moore playing opposite him, Allen should be freed from the captivity of being a defense’s main coverage assignment.
Couple that with the addition of 1,000-yard rusher D’Andre Swift, and there should be gobs of space for Allen to exploit.
Furthermore, it seems Poles and Co. are rolling out the red carpet for the Bears’ next QB, be it Caleb Williams or someone else.
Chicago isn’t your typical snake-bitten franchise tasked with selecting first in the NFL draft, having finished 7-10 in 2023 — two games back of the wild-card clinching Packers.
Adding Allen into the mix should fortify its offensive unit, giving it a better-attacking foundation as Matt Eberflus’ squad attempts to snatch a postseason golden ticket in 2024.
