It long seemed like Keenan Allen and the LA Chargers were destined for a reunion this offseason. The Chargers needed help at wide receiver and Allen himself said that he only wanted to play in Chicago or Los Angeles.
The more time has passed, the less likely a reunion has seemed. With the Chargers quickly reuniting with Mike Williams and drafting two wide receivers, even the most optimistic fans of Allen have given up on the idea of him donning the powder blue once again.
With neither Los Angeles team or the Chicago Bears having room for Allen, it may be hard to pinpoint where he will land this offseason. While anything can happen, there is one team that obviously stands out above the rest.
The San Francisco 49ers are the best fit for Keenan Allen
Allen could theoretically land anywhere but at this stage, it would be shocking if Allen signed elsewhere. All the stars are aligning for the former Chargers wideout to come back to California and play in the Bay Area.
There have not been any concrete reports tying Allen to the 49ers. This is simply a situation where the fit makes all the sense in the world for both parties.
The 49ers need wide receiver help and there has been speculation about the team potentially signing a veteran wide receiver. San Francisco currently has Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall as the top three wideouts on the depth chart. There are some question marks there, and the depth behind that trio is not great.
Adding a fourth veteran receiver to split snaps and serve as the primary slot option would pay dividends for the 49ers. Of the veteran options available, Allen would provide the biggest immediate impact for what the Niners need.
San Francisco also has the salary-cap space to make this happen. The 49ers have the second-most cap space in the NFL right now with $45.6 million in space heading into the 2025 season. Allen isn't going to sign an abnormally expensive contract, but the 49ers have more than enough room to pay him what we wants.
There is also the Northern California connection for Allen. Let's not forget that Allen played for the Cal Bears in college. Playing in the Bay Area is not foreign to the veteran wideout.
With LA and Chicago not being viable options, playing in Northern California is the closest Allen can get to what he wanted. It's the perfect mixture of playing near the location he desires, playing for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, and playing for a team that can genuinely use him in a productive manner.
If this does happen, the Chargers would potentially see Allen in the last preseason game of the year on August 23.