Jets, Texans had curiosity in Keenan Allen earlier than commerce to Bears

LAKE FOREST, Unwell. — Earlier than he was traded from the Chargers to the Bears on Thursday, large receiver Keenan Allen revealed that Los Angeles had permitted him to discover a number of choices for the place he needed to proceed his profession after spending 11 seasons with the franchise.

“There have been a pair groups that they’d permit me, I suppose, to say the place I needed to go,” Allen mentioned Saturday. “I solely had like two groups.”

Later when requested about groups considering buying and selling for Allen, the large receiver talked about the the New York Jets and Houston Texans.

The Chargers have been $21 million over the wage cap earlier than free company formally started Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET. Within the means of turning into cap compliant, pass-rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack each agreed to pay cuts whereas the workforce launched veteran large receiver Mike Williams.

After restructuring his contract final offseason, Allen declined to take a pay minimize and was subsequently traded to the Bears for a fourth-round choice (No. 110).

“It actually was no emotion. It was ‘I am not doing it,'” Allen mentioned of his response to being requested to restructure his contract. “I am not doing it. I simply got here off my finest season, so it is not occurring.”

Regardless of lacking the ultimate 4 video games of the 2023 season with a heel damage, Allen set the Chargers’ single-single file for receptions (108) and led the workforce with 1,243 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns.

The six-time Professional Bowl large receiver left the Chargers ranked second on the workforce’s checklist of all-time receiving accomplishments (10,530 yards, 904 catches) and third in touchdowns (59). He’s coming off his fifth season with 100 receptions, which is tied for the third most in NFL historical past, trailing solely Antonio Brown and Brandon Marshall. Allen additionally holds the file for many video games with 15 receptions (three) and ranks fourth all time for many video games with 10 receptions. He had 4 video games with 10 receptions final season, tied for the second most within the NFL.

Allen, 31, has one 12 months remaining on the four-year, $80.1 million contract extension he signed in 2020 with a $5 million roster bonus due Sunday. Whereas he mentioned he and the Bears are approaching the prospect of a brand new deal “someday at a time,” his hope is to stay together with his new workforce on a long-term foundation.

“Completely,” Allen mentioned. “Or we would not be right here proper now. Clearly, we’ll get there down the road.”

Along with pairing Allen with large receiver DJ Moore, who can be coming off a career-best 12 months, the Bears signed working again D’Andre Swift and tight finish Gerald Everett in free company. Subsequent month, the Bears lead off the draft with the No. 1 general choose with the potential to draft USC quarterback Caleb Williams on April 25.

Allen ushered in Justin Herbert’s NFL profession with the Chargers and expressed a want to do the identical, whether or not Chicago sticks with incumbent quarterback Justin Fields, who’s getting into his fourth NFL season, or transitions to a rookie quarterback.

“I feel I am only a pleasant man,” Allen mentioned. “I am a pleasant man on and off the sphere. Clearly on the soccer subject, I do know the sport. I do know the ins and outs, I do know the zones, I understand how to beat man, I do know just about how one can play the sport. I simply assume I am pleasant for the quarterback as a result of I will be in the appropriate spots. I understand how to speak with him, and my physique language is strong too.”