With less than a month to go until the 2025 NFL Draft, the focus has shifted to the next generation of NFL stars, who will learn their fates in late April. While the Los Angeles Chargers will get a chance to add talent through the draft, a few veteran free agents could still make a big difference for the team in 2025.
And, according to a recent article by Kristopher Knox for Bleacher Report, one of those targets could be a familiar face to fans.
Los Angeles Chargers Linked With Former Star Receiver Keenan Allen
The Chargers struck gold in the 2024 NFL Draft when they picked former Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey in the second round. He caught five passes for 39 yards and a touchdown in his NFL debut, then became one of the team’s top playmakers as the season went on.
McConkey ended the regular season with 82 receptions for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns. In the team’s only playoff game, he carried the offense with nine catches for 197 yards and a score.
But the team still needs a steady option on the outside while it figures out what to do with 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston. Johnston showed some flashes in his second season but was very inconsistent. According to Knox, that consistent option could be a familiar one — Allen.
“The Los Angeles Chargers have already brought back wide receiver Mike Williams this offseason, and re-signing Keenan Allen would be a logical next step. ‘Oh yeah, anything’s possible. That would be cool,’ head coach Jim Harbaugh said of the possibility, per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper.
“The Chargers’ offense suffered from a lack of reliable receiver depth last season, and Allen is still a mostly dependable target. While he had just 744 receiving yards with the Chicago Bears last season, he also caught 70 passes and scored seven touchdowns.”
Allen spent 11 years with the Chargers before being traded in 2024. He totaled 904 regular-season receptions for 10,530 yards and 59 touchdowns. He remains Justin Herbert’s most targeted and productive receiver over the quarterback’s five-year career.
PFSN Article Also Promotes Allen-Chargers Reunion
A recent article from PFSN also named the Chargers as a top landing spot for Allen. According to PFSN’s Kyle Soppe, the team has changed in the year Allen spent with Chicago, and now might be the perfect fit.
“The Los Angeles Chargers have made it clear with their activity this offseason that they want to ramp up their offense, and while Allen isn’t the playmaker he once was, this team doesn’t need him to be. Ladd McConkey is pretty clearly a WR1 for years to come, while the Mike Williams/Quentin Johnston duo offers field-stretching upside.”
With McConkey handling most of the receiving work, Allen could be a complementary piece in the new offense — something that might suit him as he turns 33 in September. As Soppe suggests, with defenses focused on McConkey and the deep ball, Allen could use his experience to find openings and give Herbert a reliable short-yardage option.
Soppe’s article also listed the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions as possible fits. Packers wideout Christian Watson has struggled to stay healthy, which has left the team’s young receiving corps thin at times. The Lions, on the other hand, are loaded at receiver. If Allen wants a smaller role and a chance at a championship, Detroit might appeal to him as an NFC contender chasing its first Lombardi Trophy.
With a long track record of solid play and some of the steadiest hands in the game, Allen shouldn’t be without a team for long. Whether he returns to familiar territory remains to be seen.