Two of this era’s most accomplished wide receivers remain unattached as training camps begin. Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen have spent more than four months apiece in free agency.
Allen is two years older than Cooper, going into an age-33 season — should he choose to keep going — but teams remain interested in the polished route runner. Multiple teams have shown interest in Allen in recent weeks, according to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. This offering makes it sound like Allen does intend to play, as Schultz notes Allen is believed to have waited until camp to assess teams’ receiving situations.
An injury could shake up a team’s setup, but underperformance early in camp could as well. A number of teams could benefit from Allen, who is two years removed from averaging a career-high 95.6 receiving yards per game. Even on a disjointed Bears offense that featured two play-callers (and two Thomas Brown promotions), Allen churned out 744 yards and seven touchdown grabs in 15 games. The former Charger dynamo makes sense as a complementary option.
That said, Allen indicated early this year he would not want to play a 13th season in most of the NFL’s locales. He listed a Bears signing or a Los Angeles return as optimal, pointing to retirement if such a fit did not materialize. The Rams signed Davante Adams weeks after Allen’s comments, and they have the recently re-signed Tutu Atwell in place as a No. 3 option. The Bears drafted Luther Burden to pair with D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze, effectively finding a cheaper option after trading for Allen last March.
Jim Harbaugh did not close the door on circling back to Allen, though the second-year Chargers HC did not sound overly eager on that front. But the recently re-signed Mike Williams has since retired, opening a spot for a Ladd McConkey supplementary target. Allen regularly operated in the slot in Los Angeles and San Diego, though, potentially providing a complication due to McConkey’s skillset. Allen also did not leave L.A. on great terms, as the Bolts offered to keep him at a reduced rate before the trade.
A year later, he would not command close to the $20MM per year he was earning. The Chargers also drafted two receivers (Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith) following Harbaugh’s Allen comment. Quentin Johnston also lingers as an option, but the Bolts struggled to find non-McConkey aerial answers last season.
Allen would enter a 13th season having posted six 1,000-yard slates en route to six Pro Bowls. The Broncos came up as a potentially interested party in April, but they used a third-round pick on Pat Bryant. Allen would stand to give the team a refined Courtland Sutton sidekick, however; Marvin Mims‘ gadget presence notwithstanding, the team may lack such a piece presently. As it stands, though, Allen is unsigned. It will be interesting to see if he has expanded his list of acceptable destinations, seeing as the Chicago and L.A. routes may not materialize.
while the patriots have a crowded WR room, it wouldn’t hurt to bring either of these guys in for some more competition
I think SD is a good fit ironically.
Especially after Williams’ retirement. Perhaps Mike wasn’t the former receiver who would end up being a secondary option this year?
They’re different players, but they both would have been guys who could have caught a decent number of passes as a veteran winding down his career.
“SD” hasn’t been in the NFL since 2016.
Nothing gets past this guy.
Still SD to me
Adding Allen to the room would be like adding a coach so the Pats would be getting a worthwhile return on a small investment. Of course Keenan would probably opt for a playoff contending team so I doubt he will wind up in New England.
Sounds good, but he expressed his interest in a warmer climate home team. I mean, the man can pick and choose at this point. He may just retire.
Good detail, didn’t catch that. Unless he gets a great offer from someone, it seems like a lot of WR needy teams could be out if he sticks to that. Good news for the Chargers, if they want him. San Fran isn’t exactly warm, but it isn’t wintry like a bunch of spots, either. I still think that that could be an interesting signing.
Agreed. Shanahan’s offense is miles ahead of the Bear’s atrocious offense last year. He could thrive there if he wants to.
Crowley got hurt in practice yesterday and the signed a camp body WR…
@rondon. Not sure if it’s a warmer climate he said Chicago or LA. I think he has family in both areas. Chargers might bring him back he’s friends maybe Williams knew his leg wasn’t right and gave Keenan a landing spot
He mentioned either Chicago or LA. He has been sticking to that
@hawktattoo. Yeah and it was more Chicago. I just dont think they want him back otherwise it would’ve been done. Chargers can and it would be a nice insurance policy incase of injuries. Plus i have a feeling mcconkey is going to get double teamed this year.
I agree Bears could have easily signed him. They are gonna go all in with the rookies etc. They have. I also think chargers would be great for him andcteam. We are thinking the same.
It’s hard to see the Patriots adding a receiver in free agency. They’re probably already going to have to keep six rostered and still cut someone that stings a little (Baker seems likely). I think Cooper might be short for the league at this point. As for Allen, he’s really slot only and New England has at least two guys who are best from the slot.
Patriots could trade younger WRs for another big fish. But there are too many “guys” unproven.
At the risk of relying too much on free agent acquisitions, I’d have to see Pittsburgh as a good fit; however, if they were interested, I’d also think that they’d have an inquiry already. I think last year Allen wasn’t keen(an) on the prospect, but that was a much different offense.
As SpacedCowboy mentioned, the Chargers are ironically now possibly in need of another receiver. Would San Fran do it, with the Jennings stall and Aiyuk stuck in injury rehab? Buffalo sort of tried this with an aged Cooper last year, so doubt that they’d do it again. Cleveland may, and the Chiefs are perennially in this discussion, but they look to pencil in Rice as their starter, triumphant from his legal resolution. Of course, with my luck, it’s probably some team that I didn’t list…like Denver.
Seattle is the sneaky team in my opinion.
If Allen could still work in volume outside, I could see it, but after adding Kupp? I don’t know. They already have a few guys who work well inside, so it might be crowded for them, though I suppose they could battle it out.
Yeah, he’s said he wants a warm weather climate. He’s a natural fit here in Pittsburgh and apparently unaware how 60,000 drunken fans can warm him up quickly in late December with the winds blowing off the river
He’s a steal for patriots which has a mostly unproven younger WR room. If contention wasn’t important he could easily sign with Saints or Titans. Very lackluster WR rooms imo
I’m guessing the Redskins might be keeping an eye on him if TM doesn’t sign.
Suuuuuuuure
I got the vibe that Allen was one of the vets not into Williams last year, which had their chemistry off. Back to the Chargers isn’t happening unless McConkey gets hurt. They essentially play the same position. I wonder would he play for the Colts since he played well in Steichen’s offense when he was with the Chargers. The Saints might have been a landing spot with his ties to that staff too, but they seem like such a train wreck that he probably doesn’t want to get involved in that.
Colts have receivers. They need a QB who can get it to them.
Allen was 70-744-7 last year as WR2/3 in CHI. Not bad. He can still run routes, and has a bad foot.
@realfootballfan. Chargers can fit him in. It would just bump reagor off the roster, which i prefer. Allen can play outside it would prevent teams from doubling mcconkey and if they do. Allen would be open. He has said la or Chicago. Wouldn’t surprise if he hangs it up. If that can’t be done. I’m sure he had another teams calling.
He’s old enough to be a Pittsburgh Steeler