Chicago Bears Excited By How Keenan Allen Can Benefit Expected No. 1 Pick Caleb Williams

The Bears view the former Cal star as “an absolute perfect fit” and ideal veteran partner for their rookie quarterback.

Wide receiver Keenan Allen / Photo by Kirby Lee, USA Today

The Chicago Bears, ahead of their expected selection of Caleb Williams as the top pick in the NFL draft late this month, made a trade to secure wide receiver Keenan Allen, whom they view as “an absolute perfect fit” and ideal veteran partner for their rookie quarterback.

“I don’t think there’s a better receiver in the league that can be better for a young quarterback in terms of understanding the NFL, timing, space, reading defenses,” Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles told the Chicago Tribune.

Allen, who played at Cal from 2010-12, turns 32 years old this month and coming off his sixth 1,000-yard receiving season. He had a career-high 108 catches for 1,243 yards and seven TDs, including 18 receptions for 215 yards against the Minnesota Vikings.

The six-time Pro Bowl selection has assembled massive career statistics. With 904 receptions, he is fourth among active NFL players and on pace to potentially reach 1,000 catches next fall. Allen summited the 10,000-yard plateau last season and has compiled 51 career games with at least eight catches.

The Bears haven’t come right out and declared they will take Williams, when the draft begins on April 25. But it’s considered such a sure thing that Allen turned up at USC’s pro day workout last month to get a closer look at his future teammate.

That impressed his new bosses. Allen told coach Matt Eberflus he was trying to go “incognito,” but he was hard to miss.

“I said, ’You’re in Bears gear and you’ve got your Keenan Allen beard sticking out. I don’t know if you’re pulling that off right now,’” Eberflus told the Chicago Tribune. “It was great to see him and it was great to visit with him a little bit more, too, and talk to him about his process. … I thought it was really cool that he showed up.”

Allen became available after he turned down a request from the Los Angeles Chargers to take a pay cut in order to help with the team’s salary cap issues. He comes to Chicago with one year left on his contract, which will pay him $18.1 million plus a $4 million roster bonus.

Poles, who previously worked for the Kansas City Chiefs and saw Allen regularly as AFC West rivals, knows what the veteran receiver can bring.

“My time in KC, I watched him do some really cool things for a long period of time, and to watch the tape it actually blew me away of how high of a level he’s still playing at his age,” Poles said.

The Bears aren’t expected to immediately negotiate a contract extension for Allen, but “for what he stands for, I would love to have him long term,” Poles said.

Allen met Williams when the prospect visited Chicago and saw him as a “down-to-earth, chill guy.”

He also appreciates what Williams will bring to the Bears. “Hell of an athlete,” Allen said. “Obviously he can make tremendous plays with his feet, with his arm. Looks like he knows the game really well.

“To possibly be able to have him as a wide receiver coming off his best year, all the knowledge you can gain from somebody like that, it’s great.”

The Bears are excited that Allen will be on hand to help shepherd the rookie QB. 

Eberflus talked enthusiastically about Allen’s “situational experience,” and how that can benefit Williams. 

“When you’ve got to have a play, he can make that play,” Eberflus said. “He’s been great on third down, great in two-minute, great in critical situations. He’s disciplined and just a master route runner and he has the ability to be open and stay open with his body.”