Keenan Allen moved from Los Angeles to Chicago via trade this offseason, joining a new franchise for the first time in his 12-year NFL career.
The 32-year-old wideout wouldn't mind spending more than one year in the Windy City.
"I'm going to play as long as I can," Allen said on Tuesday, via the Chicago Sun-Times. "As far as an extension, I'm going to let the play speak for itself, and if they offer me something that I like, we'll go from there."
With the Bears having DJ Moore under contract and drafting Rome Odunze, the club is in no hurry to extend Allen, but it could, depending on how the 2024 season unfolds.
As Allen noted, "the market just got reset" with Justin Jefferson's contract. With others in line for new deals -- CeeDee Lamb, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Brandon Aiyuk -- the price for productive receivers should continue to go upward.
Allen, 32, has been one of the NFL's most consistent receivers during his career, including 108 catches, 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games last season. But injuries create cause for concern. Allen has missed 11 tilts in the past two seasons.
If he remains healthy, Allen represents a veteran who rookie quarterback Caleb Williams can count on. If he plays 17 games and produces like he did in L.A., there will be a market for Allen in the offseason -- if the Bears don't pounce first.
"That's the goal right now, is to go out and do what I always do and just try to remain who I am," Allen said. "The players are going to continue to get better. They're younger, bigger, stronger, faster, and they continue to raise the bar, so as long as they're taking care of their job, [that's fine]. And vets like me, we just continue to do what we do and take the back seat and get paid as well."
Third big contracts are a rarity in the NFL, but if Allen proves that the injuries of the past two seasons were an aberration, not a trend, someone will shell out for his production.
