Jets, Texans had interest in Keenan Allen before trade to Bears - ESPN

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Before he was traded from the Chargers to the Bears on Thursday, wide receiver Keenan Allen revealed that Los Angeles had permitted him to explore several options for where he wanted to continue his career after spending 11 seasons with the franchise.

«There were a couple teams that they would allow me, I guess, to say where I wanted to go,» Allen said Saturday. «I only had like two teams.»

Later when asked about teams interested in trading for Allen, the wide receiver mentioned the the New York Jets and Houston Texans.

The Chargers were $21 million over the salary cap before free agency officially began Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET. In the process of becoming cap compliant, pass-rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack both agreed to pay cuts while the team released veteran wide receiver Mike Williams.

After restructuring his contract last offseason, Allen declined to take a pay cut and was subsequently traded to the Bears for a fourth-round selection (No. 110).

«It really was no emotion. It was 'I'm not doing it,'» Allen said of his reaction to being asked to restructure his contract. «I'm not doing it. I just came off my best season, so it's not happening.»

Despite missing the final four games of the 2023 season with a heel injury, Allen set the Chargers' single-single record for receptions (108) and led the team with 1,243 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

The six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver left the Chargers ranked second on the team's list of all-time receiving accomplishments (10,530 yards, 904 catches) and third in touchdowns (59). He is coming off his fifth season with 100 receptions, which is tied for the third most in NFL history, trailing only Antonio Brown and Brandon Marshall. Allen also holds