LA Chargers: Why Keenan Allen will undoubtedly re-sign
By Jason Reed
2. The LA Chargers know they need Keenan Allen for Justin Herbert
Tyrod Taylor might be the starting quarterback heading into the 2020 season but there is still a chance that Justin Herbert sees the field if Taylor plays poorly or gets injured. Even if Taylor has a solid 2020 season, the 2021 season is already Herbert’s as he is the next franchise quarterback — love it or hate it.
The Chargers, understandably, should be wanting to surround a young quarterback like Herbert with as many weapons as possible, especially someone like Herbert who is not a guaranteed, for-sure NFL prospect.
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Jared Goff is the perfect case-study in how weapons can help a young quarterback. While coaching helped as well, Goff was really bad in his short rookie tenure but came back with a really solid season with newfound weapons. Then, this season when Todd Gurley was not 100 percent, Goff’s inconsistencies started to shine through again.
The Chargers know that they cannot leave Justin Herbert without a true WR1 in his first season, especially when they have one that is already in-house. Sure, Mike Williams’ deep-ball capability is good for Herbert’s arm, but that becomes easy to scheme against when that is your number one target and play in the playbook.
I really like both Joe Reed and K.J. Hill as prospects but they are not ready and will not be ready to replace what Allen provides to the Chargers on the offensive side of the ball.
In an offseason where the team could also lose Hunter Henry, it makes no sense to not take the risk and pay Allen a large contract when you have space and have a young quarterback who needs elite targets.