Keenan Allen is likely gone this off-season. While keeping the former Pro Bowler would be nice after the connection he formed with Caleb Williams, the truth is he’ll likely want too much money. The Chicago Bears aren’t in a position to throw big cash at depreciating assets. He will likely hit the open market and head back west. The Bears must figure out how to fill the void he leaves behind. D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze will be central options for Williams, but the Bears still need somebody who can work from the slot.
As it turns out, the Jacksonville Jaguars might be preparing to help out. According to ESPN, there is a strong possibility that they will move on from veteran Christian Kirk, who they signed to a lucrative contract a couple of years ago. A broken collarbone, combined with the ascent of Brian Thomas Jr., has made the veteran receiver too expensive to keep. While an unfortunate end for him, it would give the Bears a great opportunity to find some slot help at what would likely be a cheap cost.
It comes down to how healthy he’ll be.
While Kirk isn’t a bad player, he has become a sort of cautionary tale for teams that just want to spend whatever they can to get competent players in their lineup. He was competing for regular work with Rondale Moore in 2021 when he had a career year, at which point the Jags decided to pay Kirk a market-altering deal. His 2022 season was a sign that he could hold up with heavier volume, but it was also the sort of deal that kept Jacksonville from making bigger splashes at positions of need. Good organizations find their Kirks in the draft or even on the waiver wire. Bad organizations pay a premium to find their Kirks because they’re not confident they can develop their own.
Kirk has $16.2 million in unguaranteed money upcoming in the final year of his deal, which is untenable given his recent impact.
Kirk is not Keenan Allen, but he’d still help.
Before last season, the receiver was averaging a respectable 841 yards per year. He is still only 28 years old, and the injury shouldn’t impact his ability to get open. The Bears won’t need him to be the primary guy. He would make a perfect #3-4 option alongside Cole Kmet. Since Jacksonville will still be paying him a lot of money once they part ways, he won’t be inclined to seek a massive payday from somebody else. The Bears can get him at a reasonable deal and likely not see much of a downgrade in productivity from what Keenan Allen gave them last year. It would be a perfect budget move, allowing them to save bigger resources for more pressing positions of need on the lines.
You could replace Allen with virtually any draft worthy WR or second/ third tier FA. Hell, there’s WRs on our roster now that could replace him, just shuffle the practice squad deck every week and pick a new one. If Poles didn’t draft Odunze so that he could let Allen walk this year then exactly why did he draft him? There’s literally no reason at all to keep Allen on this roster… like none, zero, zilch, nada….
Won’t happen.
This is the season we find out if Tyler Scott can play. With good coaches and a good plan hopefully we will see him come on strong and be a solid contributor. The last group almost ruined Kmet. It’s no wonder Scott never got used.
Eh, whatever. The Bears will either draft a day three WR to compete with Scott, or sign a second tier FA, possibly after the draft, to compete with Scott.
I just took time to watch the 7–8-minute tape. I am moving my rating up to 6.5. This is assuming his injury is not reoccurring. He does catch the ball with his body and falls down often though. Perhaps such is his way of securing and protecting the ball with less likelihood of fumbling–maintaining possession.
Dr S
5.5? Does that mean that you think the move to pick Kirk up would be a Sillie move?