The most controversial move the LA Chargers had to make in the offseason was trading Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears for a fourth-round pick. While every Chargers fan would happily have kept Allen in 2024 if possible, it was a necessary evil with the Chargers in cap purgatory thanks to Tom Telesco.
Los Angeles was able to replace Allen in some regard with second-round pick Ladd McConkey, who has blossomed into one of the best rookie wideouts this season. However, the rest of the supporting cast around McConkey has been inconsistent, leaving many fans to dream about a scenario in which the Bolts kept Allen and paired him with McConkey.
Those fans may not have to dream for much longer. Allen, who is gearing up to play his final game under contract with the Chicago Bears, has doubled-down on his future intentions: he is playing in Chicago, playing in Los Angeles, or might not be playing at all.
Keenan Allen once again mentions a potential reunion with the Chargers
This is not the first time Allen has mentioned that he only wants to play in Chicago or Los Angeles next season. Back in November, Allen echoed the exact same sentiment during a podcast appearance. With only one more game in the season, this is turning from theory to a potential reality.
The only difference this time is that the LA Rams are explicitly mentioned as well. This is not a Chargers or Bears situation — it is a Los Angeles or Chicago situation. Allen's family still lives in Los Angeles full-time, so it makes sense as to why he would want to return.
The Rams are not the most realistic destination for the veteran wideout, though. With Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp already on the roster, the Rams may not use the team's limited resources to add an overqualified third option.
Allen absolutely makes sense for the Chargers, assuming the price is right. Los Angeles shouldn't pay him top-tier money but if he comes at a discount after a down year with a rookie quarterback then it is a no-brainer for the Bolts.
The Chargers' main goal is to surround Justin Herbert with as much talent as possible. What better way to surround Herbert with talent than to give him two safety outlets who he has immense trust in? A wide receiver room of McConkey and Allen is certainly good enough to fuel a deep playoff run.
Plus, it feels like Allen has unfinished business with the Chargers. He was traded needing just one more good year to become the team's all-time receiving yards and receptions leader. He was one of the last bastions of the San Diego era, and deserved to play for this version of the Chargers after everything he had to go through.
Allen probably never wanted to leave Los Angeles in the first place. The star wideout fired his agent shortly after the trade happened, which typically indicates there was some sort of lapse in communication (for my baseball fans, just look at when Freddie Freeman left the Atlanta Braves in 2022).
Allen is making it very obvious he wants to return to Los Angeles next season. As long as it makes sense financially, the Chargers owe Allen the right to come back to LA and give him at least one shot of winning a Super Bowl with Jim Harbaugh.