The Chicago Bears appear to be all-in on USC QB Caleb Williams.
Throughout the offseason, the Bears have locked down key defensive pieces to help with a unit that ascended in the second half of 2023 and added a few major offensive pieces via free agency with the hope Williams can come in and find instant success in the NFL.
Everyone following the league understands the entire staff’s future is riding on how this season plays out, so general manager Ryan Poles has to get it right.
Last week, the Bears made a massive move to add a veteran, yet highly-productive weapon to compliment DJ Moore as another target for Williams, assuming that’s who Chicago selects with the No. 1 overall pick in April,
The Chicago Bears inked Keenan Allen — who is coming off one of his best NFL seasons and had produced year after year for the Chargers — in a deal that feels perfect to help Caleb Williams thrive immediately.
The surprising trade out of L.A. came to pass after the team approached Allen about a pay cut, which he refused. An entirely new Chargers brass led by head coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz didn’t have the same loyalty toward Allen others might after seeing him blossom from a 2013 third-round pick when the club was still in San Diego to one of the league’s premier wideouts 11 seasons later.
Hortiz and Harbaugh inherited a Chargers team in cap trouble, and made a business decision. Allen, too, approached the request to restructure from a place removed of emotion.
Keenan Allen is ready for a new test with the Chicago Bears, even if he never thought he’d leave Los Angeles.
The perennial Pro Bowl wide receiver spent his entire NFL career with the Chargers before Thursday’s trade, racking up over 900 receptions and 10,000 receiving yards in powder blue thanks to a route-running dominance that is now expected to help the Bears turn the franchise around.
“I’m definitely excited about the new opportunity,” Allen said Saturday in his introductory news conference. “Being with a new organization, this organization has a lot of tradition. Obviously wanted to finish my career [with the Chargers], but things happen and you’ve got to keep on going.”.
Keenan Allen, who turns 32 in April, inarguably put together his most impressive campaign in 2023. Despite sitting out the final month of games while nursing a heel injury, he set a career high with 108 catches, which he turned into 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns. On a per-game basis, his 95.6 yards was also tops in his so-far terrific NFL tenure.
He pairs perfectly with DJ Moore, acquired last March from Carolina and also coming off his best year as a pro. Allen is liable to make a play anywhere on the field, but he excels at coming open underneath and moving the chains. Moore, whose yards-per-reception average is nearly three more yards than Allen’s, will be all the more dangerous deep with a six-time Pro Bowl talent pulling focus opposite him.
Keenan Allen Joins Chicago Bears Staff At Caleb Williams Pro Day
With Justin Fields shipped off to the Pittsburgh Steelers just a few days ago, it would be shocking if Chicago didn’t select Williams with the No. 1 overall pick.
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles were spotted at USC’s Pro Day to watch Williams. They weren’t the only members of the organization in attendance.
Newly-acquired wide receiver Keenan Allen pulled up to watch Williams in action. He was traded to the Bears last week for a fourth-round pick.
Although nothing is official yet, it seems like Allen is getting an early look at his next quarterback.
A photo of Allen embracing Williams at USC’s Pro Day surfaced on social media.
Keenan Allen and Caleb Williams at USC’s Pro Day 👀
(📸 @BradBiggs) pic.twitter.com/AvRqz5zCYF
— PFF (@PFF) March 20, 2024
Allen told reporters last weekend that he wanted to finish his career with the Chargers. Nonetheless, he’s excited about his future playing for the Chicago Bears.
Clearly he took a moment on Wednesday to check out his presumed future QB in person, which is yet another small thing that will bode well for Caleb Williams early success,
“I’m definitely excited about the new opportunity,” Allen said, via NFL.com. “Being with a new organization, this organization has a lot of tradition. Obviously wanted to finish my career [with the Chargers], but things happen and you’ve got to keep on going.”
Allen finished the 2023 season with 108 receptions for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns. Even though he’s getting older, he remains one of the best pass catchers in the NFL.