Mike Williams looked like he was back home. The Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver had returned after his stints with the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, ready to reconnect with quarterback Justin Herbert. Then, in a matter of days, everything changed. Williams announced his retirement, leaving the Chargers scrambling to fill a critical void in their receiving corps.
Why Is ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum Urging Patience on Keenan Allen?
The sudden retirement created an immediate need for depth at receiver for the Chargers. Due to the brutal nature of the game, sudden football retirements have become commonplace. When that day arrives that the body and mind do not want to pad up, athletes sometimes lose motivation. Meanwhile, the team that counted on his presence scrambles to find a viable option as a replacement.
After a one-year sojourn, playing in New York and Pittsburgh, Williams had returned to the Chargers. From 2017 to 2023, Williams provided the organization with a deep threat, averaging 15.5 yards per catch and hauling in 31 touchdowns. Many believed returning to the team would give quarterback Justin Herbert a familiar face that could still contribute over the deep middle of the field.
This week, Williams abruptly retired. Now, left at a loss, the organization must find a replacement. One of the names being thrown around is Keenan Allen, who played for the Chargers for most of his career before leaving. After 11 years, the front office traded the six-time Pro Bowler.
Allen played with the Chicago Bears in 2024. In his lone season in Chicago, Allen grabbed 70 passes for 744 yards and seven touchdowns. Mike Tannenbaum, the former New York Jets general manager and current ESPN NFL analyst, preached patience regarding pursuing Allen.
“We always had a sign ‘Every Rock, Every Day,’ meaning we were going to be systematically relentless to look at every option. Not sure if we’re there quite yet on Keenan Allen. Tre Harris, get him signed.”
“See what Quentin Johnston has. See what Omarion Hampton has, and Tyler Conklin, knowing that somebody like Keenan Allen maybe comes in halfway through the season. I think he’s someone you monitor for now. I don’t think you have to overreact in mid-July.”
What Makes Tannenbaum’s Reasoning Fall Apart?
Tannenbaum’s opinion started very strongly. For example, the front office drafted the Ole Miss receiver with the 55th overall picke in the spring. He remains unsigned. Getting him under contract and in camp goes a long way to solidifying the receiver corps.
From there, the former general manager’s points fall apart like dollar-store toilet paper. As an illustration, Johnston and Allen do not play receiver the same way. Allen is a possession receiver who moves the sticks with guile and route specificity, catching 68.2% of his targets.
In contrast, Johnston uses straight-line speed and explosion to make plays. However, his hands (seven drops in 2024) do not match up with Allen’s. Furthermore, Tannenbaum’s mention of Hampton and Conklin makes no sense. Hampton is a grinder running back with decent hands and little route variation. Conklin is a tight end who averages just 9.7 yards per catch. Neither would fill a role that could involve Allen.
Signing Harris would be the key to the Chargers’ pass game, addressing a depth issue. Paired with Ladd McConkey, it would give Justin Herbert a young duo to throw to. Signing Allen right after camp could be a smart move, but there could be a number of other franchises who feel the same way.
