LA Sports Hub
Fansided

Keenan Allen Suddenly Poised to Return to AFC West With Chargers Rival

Veteran WR Keenan Allen could be on his way back to the AFC West this offseason after one of the Los Angeles Chargers' rival's latest hires.

By Devon Platana

Former Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) looks on during the first half against the Detroit Lions at SoFi Stadium.
Former Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) looks on during the first half against the Detroit Lions at SoFi Stadium. / Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images
facebooktwitterreddit

The Los Angeles Chargers are firmly in the NFL offseason and one player who's been on the fanbase's mind is one of their former receivers, Keenan Allen.

The veteran fan favorite was traded against his will from the Chargers to the Chicago Bears last offseason, leaving the fanbase with a sense of unfinished business. Now that Allen is slated to hit free agency next month, Los Angeles fans have been clamoring for a potential reunion and it's even gotten to the point where the players are getting in on it.

"Bring yo a** back too," Chargers safety Derwin James said to Allen on a recent Instagram post.

Allen's potential return to the AFC West seems more likely with each passing day. Unfortunately, it's beginning to look like that divisional return may not happen with the Chargers.

Chargers News: Keenan Allen Could Sign with Raiders

It's beginning to look like the Las Vegas Raiders — who are notoriously thin at wideout — could be lining up to target Allen in free agency. On Thursday, ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reported that the Raiders have hired Chris Beatty as their new WR coach.

So, why might Beatty's hiring mean the Raiders are looking at Allen?

The Topeka, KS native seems to follow the six-time Pro Bowl receiver where he goes. Beatty served as the Chargers' WR coach from 2021 to 2023 before following Allen to the Bears under the same role last season. Based on that pattern, the Raiders might be using Allen's old coach as a means to lure the former to Sin City.

After trading Davante Adams away before the trade deadline, the Raiders are left with wideouts Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker, as well as tight end Brock Bowers, as their only legitimate aerial threats next season. That's why they could target Allen, who's recorded 3,877 receiving and 24 touchdowns on 350 catches across the last four seasons working with Beatty.

The Chargers will have approximately $64.6 million in cap space to help convince Allen to return to L.A., per Spotrac. While that's quite a chunk of change, the Raiders have even more available funds than that — $95.1 million, to be exact — which means they can afford to outbid the Chargers or any other team interested in the six-time 1,000-yard WR's services.

The validity of Allen's potential AFC West return will be revealed soon. All 32 NFL teams will enter the free-agent tampering period on Monday, March 10 before free agency officially begins two days later.

More Los Angeles Chargers News and Rumors:

feed

Home/Los Angeles Chargers