The Chicago Bears are making their first preparations for the 2025 season. But with the season five months away, there are still plenty of players still looking for a job in free agency.
The Bears have been one team contributing to the market with several players shuffling in and out of Chicago with the arrival of Ben Johnson. While most of the outgoing players have been able to find new homes, there’s one notable name that is still on the market with little hope of finding a new job soon.
Keenan Allen Still Can’t Find A Job After Leaving Bears
The Chicago Bears acquired Keenan Allen in a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers last offseason. But just like the Bears plan to add another target for Caleb Williams, Allen’s free agency hasn’t played out the way he had hoped.
Allen put up modest numbers in his lone season in Chicago, catching 70 passes for 744 yards and seven touchdowns. There was also a chance that he could come back and bring a veteran presence to Johnson’s offense. That door seems to be slammed shut after the Bears selected wide receiver Luther Burden III in the second round of last month’s NFL Draft. But that turned the attention to Allen’s former team in Los Angeles.
It seemed to be a conclusion that a reunion with the Chargers would happen, but we’re still waiting as the calendar turns to May. One possibility is that Allen’s asking price is too high as he has an $11.1 million market value according to Spotrac. The other is that Los Angeles may have been pursuing other options including George Pickens, who was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Dallas Cowboys earlier this week.
With Ladd McConkey, Mike Williams and second-round pick Tre Harris in the fold, the Chargers may no longer be interested in a reunion. The Steelers could also be a possibility but Allen doesn’t seem to want to play anywhere else based on comments made on David Kaplan’s “The Big Dog Show” last November.
“I’m not playing,” Allen said. “It’s either Chicago or L.A.”
"It's Chicago or I'm back to LA"-Keenan Allen 👀
— Thomas Martinez (@BoltsDraftTalk) November 28, 2024
When asked about his contract situation with the Bears, WR Keenan Allen, appearing on David Kaplan's "The Big Dog Show", says he nor his agent have spoken with Bears GM Ryan Poles about an extension.
🎥 link ⬇️#BoltUp pic.twitter.com/uuUwbZt3kw
While Allen feels like he has some leverage as a six-time Pro Bowler, his selectiveness and asking price may be why he doesn’t have a job. Allen could be a prime target on several teams even as he enters his age-33 season. But until he accepts his situation, he could remain one of the biggest names on the free agent market.