Wide receiver is one of the biggest needs for the LA Chargers this offseason with a Keenan Allen reunion emerging as a dream situation many fans want to see become a reality. Allen has been clear about his intentions of only playing in Chicago or Los Angeles next season, opening the door for a triumph return to the Chargers.
Not everyone is sold on the idea of Allen returning to the Chargers, though. Allen is coming off his least productive season in quite some time and will be 33 years old at the start of the 2025 season. With Allen and Ladd McConkey both playing best in the slot, there is a conversation to be had around whether or not it is worth committing resources to Allen.
The Chargers would benefit from taking a big swing at the wide receiver position and as great as Allen has been, he alone probably does not solve the team's passing issues. What makes Allen such a great addition is the fact he doesn't have to be the only one. Because of the already-mentioned concerns, Allen will not cost a premium.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell certainly agrees with this hypothesis. Barnwell tiered off the biggest offensive free agents (subscription required) this offseason and listed a contract projection for each tier. Allen landed in tier 4 among wideouts titled, "borderline starters/high-end backups." Barnwell projects this tier to sign for $6-10 million a year.
Chargers would be foolish not to sign Keenan Allen at $6-10 million a year
It is hard to find a reason not to sign Allen if this is what he ends up signing for. This is a drop in the bucket for a Chargers team that has ample cap space and would not prevent the team from making another signing.
Los Angeles could absolutely sign Allen for a deal that pays him $6-10 million a year while also bringing in another wide receiver this offseason. That may seem like overkill but there is no such thing as too many weapons on offense.
In Allen, Justin Herbert would be getting a reliable target who he has plenty of history with. Even if his overall production is not as high, having another safety outlet alongside McConkey, especially on third downs and in the red zone, would make the Chargers all the more efficient on offense.
Keep in mind that this is the same tier Joshua Palmer finds himself in. When you really think about it, the Chargers would essentially be replacing Palmer for Allen for the same free-agent cost.
The Chargers are much better off spending that $6-10 million on Allen rather than spending even less on a cheaper free-agent option. A $4 million flier receiver is not going to move the needle at all in Los Angeles, so the team might as well spend slightly more to get someone who has proven rapport with the quarterback.
If Allen ends up demanding more than this in free agency then the Chargers can reconsider. But given the fact Allen has straight-up admitted he only wants to play in LA or Chicago, the Chargers don't need to outbid a slew of teams this offseason.
Keenan Allen returning to the Chargers is much more than a feel-good story. It is a smart move that would improve the Chargers at a minimal cost.