The trade for Keenan Allen appeared to be the latest miss for Chicago Bears' general manager Ryan Poles at the start of the 2024 season.
A heel injury threw a wrench in Allen's availability during the first four games of the Bears' season and when he was on the field, it seemed that injury was making him a shell of his former Pro-Bowl caliber self.
Fortunately for Poles, and the Bears, Allen seems to have found his stride. Allen has recorded at least five receptions in four of the Bears' last five games while scoring three touchdowns over the course of the Bears' last two games.
Allen's 2024 season totals after Week 18 will be a far cry from his last season with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023 but he is making a strong case for the Bears to consider bringing him back for the 2025 season.
While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Allen was not shy about what he wants next in his career following the 2024 season. Allen was emphatic in telling reporters that Chicago is the place he wants to be next season.
"Talking with DJ (Moore) today, he wants me to run it back."
— Marquee Bears (@BearsMarquee) December 5, 2024
When asked if he wants to 'run it back', Keenan Allen replied, 'Yeah, absolutely'. pic.twitter.com/OwTDYOCa2f
Playing with Caleb Williams this season seems to be the reason Allen was open to being traded to the Bears last offseason and Williams remains the reason Allen doesn't want to go anywhere. Allen has emerged as an important voice in the locker room but his value appears to have reached the coaching staff as well.
Chris Beatty is now the Bears' offensive coordinator under interim head coach Thomas Brown, but he was previously the team's wide receivers coach prior to Matt Eberflus's firing. In his new role, Beatty told reporters on Thursday that Allen has been serving as the de facto wide receivers coach on the field for the Bears this season.
It will come down to money as prior to the season, Allen was probably in line for the two-year, $52MM type contract Mike Evans signed last Spring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It could be a steep ask for the Bears if they are basing it off of Allen's 2024 data alone.
However, if Williams wants Allen back, the Bears shouldn't object. Especially since Rome Odunze hasn't taken the rookie-season leap that the team may have been hoping for.