Kris Rhim
LOS ANGELES — In a sport dominated by among the world's quickest and strongest people, Los Angeles Chargers extensive receiver Keenan Allen is neither.
That was evident through the 2013 NFL draft course of for Allen, a 6-foot-2, 211-pounder whom many analysts thought of the highest receiver. However Allen had suffered a season-ending PCL harm in his closing season on the College of California. He ran a 4.71-second 40-yard sprint at his professional day — effectively behind Marquise Goodwin's 4.27 time that led receivers on the mix.
Chargers extensive receivers coach Sanjay Lal, then in the identical position with the New York Jets, mentioned he remembers the considerations round Allen.
He was probably the most productive receivers in faculty — Allen nonetheless holds the varsity report for receptions (205) and is third in yards (2,570) — however there was a collective fascination with how efficient he could be within the NFL due to his middling bodily traits, Lal mentioned: “You are like, effectively, how'd he do it?” These considerations, mixed together with his harm, dropped Allen to the third spherical, the place the Chargers chosen him with total choose No. 76.
13 seasons, six Professional Bowls and a bevy of NFL data later, many are nonetheless fascinated by Allen's productiveness.
“His potential to snap down to love get near get open is unbelievable,” Seahawks receiver Cooper Kupp mentioned of Allen on the “Video games With Names” podcast. “He would run hitch routes in opposition to press, and he'd get open despite the fact that they by no means throw a go ball.”
Most receivers start to say no — in the event that they have not already — at Allen's age. At 33, nonetheless, he stays productive, main the Chargers in receptions (50) and rating second in yards (520) this season.
Should you ask Allen, evaluating him to different receivers who've declined at his age does not make a lot sense as a result of he by no means relied on elite bodily traits: “I haven't got a step to lose,” he says.
The Chargers will proceed to lean on Allen in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday evening, the place he'll want simply two catches to interrupt tight finish Antonio Gates' franchise report for profession receptions (NBC/Peacock, 8:20 p.m. ET).
“I will run full velocity as a result of my full velocity is not Tyreek Hill or Ja'Marr Chase or one thing like that,” he mentioned. “So I can use my velocity to my potential and nonetheless cease on a dime.”
Allen's continued manufacturing provides to the confusion that has been a theme of his profession: The dearth of curiosity in him in free company proved that the NFL believed his greatest days have been behind him. It is why the Chargers did not need to pay him wherever near high receiver cash and traded him to Chicago forward of final season. And why Chicago let him stroll in free company, the place he signed a one-year take care of the Chargers in August.
Allen's future looms within the background, because the Chargers have 4 receivers chosen prior to now three drafts on the roster — which means he might be enjoying his final season in L.A. However Allen has proved this yr that he's nonetheless a menace.
“I by no means questioned [my talent],” Allen mentioned. “I simply needed to present them.”
ALLEN HAD WHAT he referred to as the perfect season of his profession with the Chargers in 2023. Regardless of being restricted to 13 video games after a heel harm ended his season, he completed sixth within the NFL in receptions (108) and eleventh in receiving yards (1,243).
After firing former basic supervisor Tom Telesco and coach Brandon Staley after the 2023 season, the staff introduced in GM Joe Hortiz and coach Jim Harbaugh to repair one of many league's worst wage cap conditions. Allen's contract was on the forefront.
The Chargers have been nearly $20 million over the cap forward of the beginning of the brand new league yr in 2024. Allen, extensive receiver Mike Williams and linebackers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack had 4 of the 5 highest non-quarterback wage cap hits within the league on the time. Allen's $34.7 million hit made it doubtless that the Chargers would look to restructure his deal, commerce him or launch him.
League guidelines required the Chargers to be beneath the $255.4 million cap by 4 p.m. ET on March 13. In order that they launched Williams that day, saving $20 million in 2024, which made them cap-compliant. And Mack and Bosa agreed to take pay cuts that saved the Chargers almost $24 million.
So Los Angeles did not essentially must ask Allen to take a pay lower, however it did anyway. The 2 sides could not agree on an adjusted contract, and the Chargers traded Allen to the Bears for a fourth-round choose (No. 110) on March 14. In Allen's first information convention in Chicago, he advised reporters that there was “no emotion” in his choice to not take a pay lower to stay in L.A.
Allen joined a staff laden with hope in No. 1 choose quarterback Caleb Williams. Allen was anticipated so as to add to an offense that might be among the many league's greatest. However it did not go that means. Allen did not come near the stats he had in 2023, although was nonetheless efficient, ending 744 yards and 7 touchdowns. The Bears completed 5-12, final within the NFC North.
“It was up and down,” Allen mentioned. “Clearly, a rookie, so [Williams] needed to study the offense, study the NFL, learn the way issues have been run and the way issues have been purported to go.”
It was additionally the primary time since faculty that Allen had lived alone. His spouse and 4 kids stayed in Los Angeles whereas he lived in a three-bedroom dwelling in Chicago.
“It was powerful, quiet. Not used to the quiet,” Allen mentioned. “Simply just about enjoying the sport on my own.”
FOR THE CHARGERS, the Allen commerce paid dividends. They used the choose to commerce up with the New England Patriots within the second spherical to pick out extensive receiver Ladd McConkey, who broke a lot of Allen's rookie receiving data. L.A. completed final season 11-5 however misplaced within the first spherical of the playoffs to the Houston Texans.
The Bears did not lengthen Allen, and he grew to become a free agent. All through the offseason, his return to the Chargers appeared more and more unlikely.
L.A. introduced Williams again after he spent a season with the Steelers, and the Chargers drafted rookie extensive receivers Tre' Harris (second spherical) and KeAndre Lambert-Smith (fifth spherical). However after Williams' abrupt retirement, the Chargers introduced Allen again on a one-year deal for $3.02 million in August.
The deal was a lot smaller than Allen had anticipated and far lower than the Chargers had provided him the yr earlier than. Allen mentioned at his first information convention with the Chargers that he “felt he obtained a bit downplayed” in free company, which put a figurative chip on his shoulder.
Allen mentioned he appreciated the motivation, however “not for this low-cost.”
“Final offseason, you look across the league, the fellows that have been getting offers, I felt like I did a bit bit higher than these guys for probably the most half,” he mentioned. “Even the yr earlier than Chicago. It is in all probability an age factor, no matter it's. I do not know.”
In Week 5 of this season, Allen grew to become the quickest receiver in NFL historical past to achieve 1,000 catches.
His knack for getting open nonetheless shocks teammates resembling Quentin Johnston, who additionally performed with Allen as a rookie in 2023.
“I finished seen him cook dinner any individual within the walk-through,” Johnston mentioned. “Like, ‘Bro, we strolling.' How did you even do this?'”
Allen has been significantly impactful for the Chargers on third downs this season. He earned the nickname “third-and-Keenan” from security Derwin James Jr. for his reliability in these situations. Allen leads the NFL in targets (29) and receptions (19) and receiving first downs on third down (17).
Because the extensive receiver coach in Seattle throughout 2022-23, Lal coached DK Metcalf, a 6-3, 228-pound receiver with 4.3 velocity. Allen is on the opposite finish of the spectrum. However Lal mentioned Allen has evident bodily presents past simply his nifty footwork.
Lal in contrast Allen's explosive route operating to that of Amari Cooper, who may get important distance on every step that others could not. Lal mentioned Allen's explosiveness is not evident on movie, so when he will get open, it may be complicated due to how easy it appears. However when Lal started teaching Allen, he realized how a lot energy and velocity have been truly going into every transfer.
“You possibly can't replicate that. He is tremendous explosive,” Lal mentioned. “He may not have the 4.3 40-yard sprint badge on his title, however so far as twitch goes, he is elite. So he's bodily gifted. He is not just a few man who has all these strikes.”
And but, when Lal watches Allen get 3 yards of separation operating the identical route one other participant obtained zero area on, he is nonetheless left with the identical query he had 12 years in the past: “How'd he do it?”
