4 Bears that Fans Will Be Happy to See Leave in Free Agency
By Cem Yolbulan
4. WR Keenan Allen
Another failed trade acquisition of the Bears was star wide receiver Keenan Allen. Chicago traded for the six-time Pro Bowler last offseason in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Allen's high salary and expiring contract lowered the asking price and made him more easily acquirable for the Bears.
Allen's production, however, failed to fulfill the fanbase's expectations. After struggling with an early-season injury, the 32-year-old receiver hasn't missed a game since Week 3. Since then, he has gotten more targets per game (8.4) than any other receiver on the team. The results have been a mixed bag.
After going for 1,243 receiving yards in 13 games last season, Allen is finishing the 2024 campaign with his lowest yards total in eight years. His 56.8% catch rate and yards per target are the worst of his career.
A lot of these struggles can easily be attributed to the offensive ecosystem. Playing with a rookie quarterback on a dysfunctional offense is not the ideal situation for any wide receiver. At the same time, the Bears likely expected better from Allen than being the 69th-best wideout in the league per PFF.
Allen still led the Bears in touchdowns this season but that may be damning with faint praise on a team that scored the fourth-least points in the league.
The 2025 offseason is Allen's last chance at a big payday. This will presumably be the final contract of his NFL career. Even though he has made enough money throughout his illustrious 12-year career, Allen would be wise to prioritize financial security and guaranteed money.
The Bears already invested in D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze as key building blocks of the franchise. Breaking the bank for a WR3 like Allen doesn't make too much sense for Chicago.