How massive Keenan Allen trade impacts Bears’ 2024 NFL Draft plans originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Ever since the season ended, the prevailing thought has been that the Bears will select USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and try to get him an elite wide receiver with the No. 9 pick.
Thursday’s stunning trade for six-time Pro-Bowl receiver Keenan Allen likely changes that equation.
Late Thursday night, the Bears sent a 2024 fourth-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers for Allen, who is 31 years old and in the final year of his contract. Allen is still an elite receiver and will perfectly complement DJ Moore, giving Williams or Justin Fields two top-tier receivers to rely on.
The Bears will inherit $23 million of cap charges for Allen and likely will look to extend him past the 2024 season.
On paper, drafting a top-tier receiver like Washington’s Rome Odunze or LSU’s Malik Nabers at No. 9 is a much more efficient way to fill the second wide receiver hole opposite DJ Moore. But the belief in league circles is that the three top receivers — Odunze, Nabers, and Marvin Harrison Jr. — will all be off the board by the time the Bears go on the clock at No. 9. A lot of the conversation at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine revolved around the possibility that the Bears would move up from nine to secure one of the top pass-catchers.
The Bears undoubtedly have an idea of how the top of the draft will shake out, and the move for Allen gives them the flexibility to do a number of things at No. 9.
The Bears struck out on edge rushers and tackles in the first wave of free agency. They need to find a pass rusher to put opposite Montez Sweat and add another three-technique after Justin Jones’s departure. They could also be looking to upgrade at left tackle. Braxton Jones improved in Year 2, but it’s unclear how the Bears feel about his long-term prospects to be a franchise blindside protector.
In trading for Allen, the Bears filled…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/massive-keenan-allen-trade-impacts-204044130.html
Author : NBC Sports Chicago
Publish date : 2024-03-15 20:40:44
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