New Keenan Allen Report Sheds Light on Bears Future After Trade

The Chicago Bears gave fans something to cheer for when they pulled off the splashy trade to bring in Chargers legend Keenan Allen this offseason. The 31-year-old wide receiver who is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, was acquired by a single fourth-round pick. This was possible because he was entering the final year of his contract, requiring an extension.

This immediately became a cause of concern for Bears fans. If Allen indeed wants a lucrative long-term extension that would place him among the highest-paid receivers in the league, this would hamstring Chicago's future financial flexibility. Therefore, questions about whether the six-time Pro Bowler would be a short-term rental for the Bears emerged.

According to ESPN reporter Courtney Cronin, these fears are baseless as she fully expects Allen to finish his career in Chicago.

Bears Rumors: Keenan Allen Expected to Finish His Career In Chicago

This will certainly alleviate some of the concerns Bears fans had but some question marks will remain until they see the final amount on that contract extension.

Allen has been excellent last season, finishing with 108 catches, 1,243 yards, and seven touchdowns in 13 games. It was his fifth 1,000+ yards in seven years as he shows no signs of decline.

He is also about to turn 32. The Bears, who are building a young and promising core with a new rookie quarterback at the helm, should be wary of shelling out massive contracts to players who could potentially decline.

Despite the busy free agency, the Chicago Bears are still behind the Lions and the Packers in the NFC North odds (+350) to win the division. They will need a big season from Keenan Allen to close that gap.

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