It's hard to imagine that NFL free agency is less than two weeks away, but here we are. A total of 23 Chicago Bears players are projected to become unrestricted free agents on March 12, according to Spotrac, leaving time to tell who general manager Ryan Poles will decide to keep and who must look for playing opportunities elsewhere.
Although there's still plenty of time for Poles to re-sign some of the Bears' key players, one upcoming free agent has made it clear he's ready to leave Chicago this month.
Bears Free Agency: Keenan Allen Hints at Chicago Exit
Checking social media is one of the easiest ways to find out what's on a player's mind in today's NFL. With that being said, wide receiver Keenan Allen's latest postings don't exactly point to his wanting to re-sign with the Bears this offseason.
Allen has spent the last few days sharing practice videos of his time with the Los Angeles Chargers to his Instagram stories. Although stories only last 24 hours, X user @Camden_Cash managed to screen capture one of the videos.
Keenan Allen’s whole IG story is clips of him routing up DB’s during Chargers practice.
— Camden (@Camden_Cash) February 28, 2025
I know some are concerned about the fit, but I’ll take 13 back on this offense all day. pic.twitter.com/pB5qz1LvoB
The Bears sent a 2024 fourth-round pick to the Chargers last year to acquire Allen, hoping his presence would help take quarterback Caleb Williams' game to the next level. Although the 32-year-old wideout's exit would sting for some Chicago fans, a potential departure isn't that surprising.
After all, Allen had spent his entire career with the Chargers and never asked to be traded in the first place. The veteran playmaker was allegedly "stunned and hurt" by the deal, according to ESPN's Kris Rhim, which was made abundantly clear by his post-trade comments.
"I obviously wanted to finish my career (in L.A.)," Allen said. "But things happen, and you've got to keep on moving."
All signs point to Allen testing free agency following an uneventful season with the Bears. While the former California Golden Bear led all Chicago wideouts with seven touchdown grabs, his 4.7 receptions and 49.6 receiving yards per game were among the worst efforts of his 12-year career.
Perhaps a change in scenery could get Allen back on track. As disappointing as last season's performance was, his heart wasn't into playing with the Bears, and a move closer to the Sunshine State could be exactly what the six-time Pro Bowl playmaker needs.
Bears fans likely won't have to wait much longer to have a better understanding of Allen's outlook. The 2025 NFL tampering period begins on Monday, March 10, followed by the start of free agency two days later.