Keenan Allen Teases New Contract as Bears Debate Justin Fields Trade, Caleb Williams

Veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen is looking to potentially remain in Chicago for the long haul following his trade to the Bears.

According to Adam Jahns of The Athletic, Allen suggested Saturday that a contract extension could be on the horizon.

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Allen has a $5 million roster bonus due Saturday at 4 p.m. ET that the Bears will pay, and he added that a subsequent contract extension would "presumably make sense."

Allen, who is set to enter the final year of his contract in 2024, was dealt to the Bears in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick this week due to the Los Angeles Chargers' need to create salary cap space.

Now, Allen is set to form perhaps one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL with D.J. Moore, but it isn't yet known who will be throwing them the football in 2024, as the Bears must decide between either keeping quarterback Justin Fields or selecting USC's Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

In Allen, the Bears are getting an 11-year veteran who was a six-time Pro Bowler during his time with the Chargers.

The 31-year-old Allen has reached the 100-catch mark five times in his career and topped 1,000 yards on six occasions. He did both last season despite missing four games, finishing with 108 receptions for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns.

Moore is coming off his best NFL season, as he set career highs with 96 grabs for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns as Fields' No. 1 target.

With a supporting cast of Allen, Moore, tight end Cole Kmet and running back D'Andre Swift around him, the potential would be there for Fields to take a big step forward in 2024, but the chance to draft the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner in Williams could prove too tempting for the Bears to pass up.

Regardless of who Chicago's quarterback is in 2024, it would make sense for the Bears to make locking Allen into a long-term deal a priority.

Allen will be 32 when the 2024 season begins, so it is possible his next contract could take him to the end of his career.

He has not experienced any drop-off in play as he has aged, so the Bears may not hesitate to extend him at the right price.

The Bears are the only active franchise to have never had a 4,000-yard passer in a single season, but the pieces are undoubtedly in place to make it happen for either Fields or Williams.

Extending Allen would give Chicago's quarterback multiple years with the same core around him, which should only help in terms of the franchise cultivating its first superstar quarterback in decades.