Chargers GM: Keenan Allen Was Offered Contract Extension Before Trade to Bears

Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz told reporters that the front office offered wide receiver Keenan Allen multiple contract options before trading him to the Chicago Bears on March 14, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic.

One of the reported options was an extension, although the two sides couldn't come to an agreement before the 31-year-old was moved in exchange for a 2024 fourth-round pick.

Allen revealed at his introductory press conference with Chicago that the Chargers asked him to take a pay cut before the trade occurred (h/t Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk).

"It really was no emotion, it was 'I'm not doing it,'" Allen explained. "I'm not doing it. I just came off my best season, so it's not happening."

In just 13 appearances during his 2023 campaign, the former third-round pick hauled in a career-high 108 receptions while recording 1,243 yards to go along with seven touchdowns. In his final five appearances, he racked up 523 yards.

However, the Chargers needed to adjust the contracts of several key players in order to get out of a tricky cap situation heading into free agency. Fellow wide receiver Mike Williams was released on March 13, freeing up roughly $20 million in cap space. Meanwhile, pass-rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack both restructured their contracts in order to stay with the organization.

Although Allen and the Chargers couldn't agree to an extension, that doesn't appear to be the case with his new team. The six-time Pro Bowl wideout "indicated" to reporters on Saturday that a contract to keep him in Chicago beyond the 2024 season could be coming (per Adam Jahns of The Athletic).

Keeping Allen on the Bears could help the team make life easier for a rookie quarterback such as USC signal-caller Caleb Williams, as they currently own the No. 1 overall selection in the 2024 draft.