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Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Detroit Lions in November at SoFi Stadium. The Chargers traded Allen to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick on Thursday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The Chargers traded their longest-tenured player Thursday night, moving Keenan Allen to Chicago in exchange for a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft, the team announced.
Trying to free salary-cap space, the team approached the wide receiver about taking a pay cut, according to a person familiar with the situation not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. When Allen refused, the Chargers decided to deal him, with the Bears agreeing to acquire him for their 110th overall pick.
In 11 seasons, Allen, who turns 32 in April, caught 904 passes for 10,530 yards and 59 touchdowns.
“What Keenan Allen has meant to the Chargers for more than a decade cannot adequately be expressed through mere words,” John Spanos, the Chargers president of football operations, said in a statement. “Keenan’s impact lives in the hearts of our fans, in the communities which he has served and amongst the countless teammates who have formed a brotherhood with him.
“There will only be one Keenan Allen, and we cannot thank him enough for the contributions he has made to our organization both on and off the field.”
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His departure means quarterback Justin Herbert loses his favorite, most reliable target.
The Chargers also cut wide receiver Mike Williams this week and allowed running back Austin Ekeler to depart via free agency. So Herbert will enter next season with a vastly different looking supporting cast.
The team entered this week some $25 million over the salary cap, the release of Williams necessary to reach compliance by a 1 p.m. PDT deadline Wednesday.
The Chargers then reworked the contracts of edge rushers Khalil Mack and…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/chargers-trade-keenan-allen-chicago-024958897.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-03-15 02:49:58
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