Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles is in the midst of what can best be described as a transformational offseason.
Poles traded away Justin Fields, signed explosive and versatile running back D’Andre Swift, and traded for deep-threat wide receiver Keenan Allen to drop into the offense opposite speedster D.J. Moore.
The Bears‘ moves in the early days of free agency orchestrate a soft landing for USC quarterback Caleb Williams, viewed by many as a generational prospect at the position and expected to become Chicago’s next franchise quarterback.
But, splashy position-player playmakers aren’t the only additions that Poles and the Chicago Bears have made.
Offensive lineman Matt Pryor provides a steady veteran presence up front, and Kevin Byard adds experience alongside Jaquan Brisker in the secondary.
But, it’s the rounding out of the offensive skill positions with Allen, Moore, and Gerald Everett that set Williams up for immediate success and the Bears for a 2024 turnaround.
What Keenan Allen Brings to Chicago Bears
For a franchise that has seen its bread and butter be screen passes, the running game, and quarterbacks sent scrambling for their lives, Poles’ trade for Allen represents a new day dawning in the Windy City.
Last season, Allen caught 108 of his 145 targets for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns.
However, as Pro Football Focus points out, Chargers quarterbacks produced an eye-popping 110.2 passer rating when targeting Allen. That kind of consistency combined with Allen’s ability to make both contested passes and bail out his quarterback with athletic grabs will make williams’ transition to the NFL easier.
“We saw just last season how bad things can go if a team’s rookie quarterback doesn’t have anyone to throw to,” Sam Monson cautions, writing for PFF. “One of the many problems faced by Bryce Young in Carolina was exactly that, in large part because it cost the Panthers D.J. Moore in the trade to get up to No. 1 overall in the first place. As the beneficiary of that trade, the Bears are seeking to learn from Carolina’s mistakes and ensure that their young signal-caller has weaponry and options in the passing game.
“There’s no real evidence that Allen is slowing down, either. Never overly reliant on speed or physical gifts, Allen saw 145 targets last season, snagging seven receiving touchdowns and ranking 11th in the league in yards per route run (2.36), actually two spots above Moore.
“Allen and Moore also complement each other well in terms of skill set. Allen’s route-running chops and prowess underneath synchronize with the more explosive and athletic Moore. Allen’s career average depth of target is just 9.3 yards downfield, while Moore’s is 12.0.”
Pairing Allen opposite Moore, who set new career highs in 2023 with 93 receptions for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns, rounds out a potentially dynamic and dominant receiving corps. Both should benefit from the other’s presence, and create opportunities underneath for D’Andre Swift and Gerald Moore in the Chicago Bears’ intermediate passing game.
The biggest winner of all, might be Caleb Williams.
Can Chicago Bears Make Playoff Push in 2024?
Trading a fourth-round NFL Draft pick for Keenan Allen signals that the Chicago Bears are going for it in 2024.
It remains to be seen if the Bears can overcome the Detroit Lions, a favorite to win the NFC and make the Super Bowl, and the ascending Green Bay Packers, Chicago certainly closed the gap with this move.
If nothing else, adding Allen to Williams’ supporting cast — even for one season, hastens the quarterback’s development and could set the stage for him to reach his lofty potential much quicker than most do while opening the postseason window in coming years.
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