During his first news conference with the Chicago Bears on Saturday morning, Keenan Allen disclosed to the media that he was aware that the Los Angeles Chargers were trading him this offseason, but he would be able to choose his next stop. The Houston Texans were one of those landing locations. And before the NFC North team emerged victorious in the match, a transaction was almost complete. Allen remarked, “I think there were two teams interested.” “It was the [New York] Jets and Houston.” The Texans inquired about Allen’s position and expressed great interest, according to sources who spoke with TexansDaily.com. However, Los Angeles demanded high pay for the 31-year-old pass-catcher, who was coming off of a spectacular season.
In order to finalize the agreement, the Bears, who are still undecided about what to do with quarterback Justin Fields and the top pick, offered Fields a 2024 four-round pick (No. 110) and paid his $5 million signing bonus. Allen anticipates signing a long-term contract with Chicago and remaining with the team through 2024.
With 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns last season, Allen recorded his second-best career receiving yardage and grabbed a career-high 108 catches. In addition, he only had two drops and averaged 11.5 yards per reception. Allen will be No. 2 facing DJ Moore in Chicago. Since Nico Collins went from being a third-round pick to a real No. 1 pass-catcher and C.J. Stroud’s favourite target, it would have been more of the same in Houston. The 24-year-old Collins just finished a career-best year in which he caught 80 balls for 1,297 yards and eight runs scored. He joined Hall of Famer Andre Johnson and former All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins as the third receiver in Texans history to finish with more than 1,200 receiving yards in a single season.
Although Allen would have preferred an extension, his presence in the slot would have only improved Stroud’s accuracy in Year 2 as Houston attempts to maintain its lead in the AFC South. In Chicago, how would that appear, and was Caserio prepared to put up the money? Houston is still optimistic that it can reach an agreement with Collins on a new contract before the following summer. Would Collins have been asking for that much if Allen’s yearly salary had been $20 million or so? Could Collins have desired more? Houston has Allen locked up for the long run; would they let him walk now?
After inconsistent performance in 2023, the Texans’ offence requires consistency in the slot. Due to his quickness, one possible solution would be to permanently relocate rookie Tank Dell inside. Dell, a third-round pick like Collins and Allen, ended up with nearly 700 receiving yards and seven touchdowns before having surgery to repair a broken fibula that ended his season.
Houston may also use one of its two second-round selections in the upcoming draft to seek a certain player. Prospects like Ladd McConkey of Georgia, Ja’Lynn Polk of Washington, Roman Wilson of Michigan, and Malachi Corley of Western Kentucky are a few who suit the mould. Yes, the Texans’ offence would have been more explosive with Allen on board. By 2024, it would have been regarded as one of the best units in the league. But everything in life comes with a cost. How much is Los Angeles worth? a quick choice over a later agreement.
