The Chicago Bears have settled most of their important business for the 2024 season. Every key player has gotten their contracts squared away. New faces have arrived to upgrade the roster. Among them is six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen. The star wide receiver joins D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze to form perhaps the most formidable trio of pass targets the Bears have ever put together. It doesn’t feel like a question of whether they will be productive together. It is more a matter of how long they stay together. GM Ryan Poles faces a dilemma.
Moore is under contract for two more years. Odunze is on a fresh four-year deal. They aren’t going anywhere. Allen is a trickier situation. He is in the last year of his current contract. Without an extension, he will enter the 2025 free agent market. Poles was asked about the issue on Waddle & Silvy for ESPN 1000. The GM didn’t weave around the question. Both sides have agreed that no extension talks will happen before or during the season. The Bears want to see how Allen does this year before engaging in a possible new deal.
Ryan Poles is making the right decision with this approach.
Allen is a terrific player, no question. However, facts are facts. He turns 32 this season, and there is no telling when his effectiveness may dip. Most receivers experience it somewhere around 33 to 35. There is also the fact he has missed 11 combined games over the past two years with various injuries. Handing him a big contract extension, even for two years, without seeing him play actual games would be an unnecessary gamble. If he plays well and stays healthy? The Bears can feel better about giving him his money.
Besides, they no longer have to feel pressure to get this done. Drafting Odunze gave them excellent insurance. If Allen leaves, the Bears would still have the 9th overall pick and Moore as primary targets for Caleb Williams. That money could then go towards other positions of need next off-season. Chicago is open to keeping Allen around beyond this year. He and Williams seem to have a strong connection already. Still, Ryan Poles must be smart about this. There is no reason to jump the gun.
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