3 Bears Preparing for their Final Season in Chicago

2. Keenan Allen, WR

The Bears just added wide receiver Keenan Allen to the roster this offseason which means he's preparing for his first year with the team. It could also wind up being the only season he spends with them.

Allen is a six-time Pro Bowler who spent the past 11 years playing for the Chargers. He was there for four seasons while they were still in San Diego and made the move to Los Angeles.

He was dealt to the Bears during the offseason for a fourth-round pick after the team was unable to get him to take a pay cut.

At 32 years of age, Allen doesn't have many years left in the league and has missed 11 games due to injury over the past two years. He's still been productive, however, with 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games during the 2023 campaign.

In Chicago, he will play alongside D.J. Moore and rookie Rome Odunze. The two veterans will help the rookie along but by 2024, they might be ready for him to take on a larger role which is why Allen could be one-and-done.

Allen remains one of the more underrated players in the game and will help Caleb Williams tremendously in 2024. But if he wants to make the most money he can to close his career, that might have to happen elsewhere.

1. Khalil Herbert, RB

The Chicago Bears saw former starting running back David Montgomery sign with an NFC North rival, the Detroit Lions. Interestingly enough, his arrival in the Motor City led to the Bears landing a new starter this year in free agency.

Montgomery’s signing with Detroit — and the selection of Jahmyr Gibbs from Alabama in Round 1 — resulted in their decision to trade D’Andre Swift to the Philadelphia Eagles. Swift ran for more than 1,000 yards for the first time in his career but didn't return to Philly for a second season. Instead, he signed a three-year deal with Chicago, where he replaces Khalil Herbert as the starting running back.

Herbert, a former sixth-round pick in 2021, averaged 4.6 yards per attempt but struggled with injuries. He finished the 2023 season with 611 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and 134 yards and a touchdown as a receiver. Swift offers more as a starting back and the Bears will be giving Roschon Johnson more touches as well following a decent rookie campaign.

Chicago could decide to trade Herbert now, but there doesn't seem to be any way he's on the roster in 2025 even if that doesn't happen.

He will go down as a great selection on Day 3 but his days in Chicago are numbered.

More Bears news and coverage: