New Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh and the team will search for skilled position players through free agency and the NFL draft in April after trading away veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears on Thursday night.
Allen was coming off one of the better seasons of his 11-year career and was named a Pro Bowler for a sixth time. He caught a franchise-record 108 passes for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games in 2023.
Quarterback Justin Herbert will have a new surrounding cast after the Chargers also moved on from running back Austin Ekeler, receiver Mike Williams and tight end Gerald Everett this offseason.
Here’s what the NFL community had to say about the trade:
Chargers trade WR Keenan Allen to Bears for 4th-round pick https://t.co/pl2WICkvmc
— O.C. Register (@ocregister) March 15, 2024
for all the slays,
and the plays,
and the memories.thank you, 13. 💙 pic.twitter.com/U2dpY6ZybO
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) March 15, 2024
One of the greatest Chargers I'll ever have the privilege of watching.
Love you Keenan Allen ❤️ pic.twitter.com/P3Lu7IP96P
— Tyler Schoon (@tylerjschoon) March 15, 2024
"there will only be one keenan allen." pic.twitter.com/MvONDxYPlO
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) March 15, 2024
Keenan Allen Vs NFC North(2023):
Green Bay: 10 catches, 106 yards,TD
Detroit: 11 catches, 175 yards, 2TD
Minnesota: 18 catches, 215 yards, pic.twitter.com/KsrKpZV2Hb— ImBearingDown (@ImBearingDown) March 15, 2024
Quentin Johnston finding out he’s the new WR1 for the Chargers pic.twitter.com/UmAUBM6lXI
— Fantasy Points (@FantasyPts) March 15, 2024
Justin Herbert has got to be absolutely sick to his stomach rn, he went from Keenan Allen and Mike Williams to Josh Palmer and Quentin Johnston…
Nasty work from the Chargers front office💀
— Somethingweird11 (@Kong_Bong72) March 15, 2024
chargers fans last season:
“can’t believe we haven’t got Herbert his own weapons yet! unbelievable how we have failed him! still throwing to rivers weapons for the 5th year”chargers fans tonight:
“can’t believe we let mike williams and keenan allen go! what are we doing!”— Weez Herbolt ⚡️💛💜⚽️ (@LAker_weez) March 15, 2024
Cut Mike Williams and now trading Keenan Allen. What are the Chargers doing??? https://t.co/SvCjToFIPM
— Trap (@TrapAHolic__) March 15, 2024
I thought the Chargers would approach salary cap reconstruction w/ idea of keeping 1 of 2 expensive WRs & 1 of 2 EDGE rushers.
Parting ways w/ Mike Williams wasn't a shock at all. Just thought the other cap casualty would've been one of Bosa or Mack as opposed to Keenan Allen.
— Jake Gould (@jakegould10) March 15, 2024
With a challenging salary cap situation to navigate, the Chargers’ new regime decided to prioritize keeping their defensive front together by restructuring deals with both edge rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack this week.
