Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Joby Branion, the agent of new Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen, had an interesting response to comments made by Los Angeles Chargers GM Joe Hortiz on last week’s blockbuster trade.

In a surprise move, the Chargers traded the six-time Pro Bowler and longtime fan favorite to the Bears for the low price of a fourth-round draft pick. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Hortiz stated that the Bolts gave Keenan Allen “multiple different options and just none of them worked out”, per Eric Smith of Chargers.com.

Responding to a tweet from The Athletic’s Daniel Popper on Hortiz’s comments, Branion denied that his client received multiple offers. Branion claims that the Chargers only submitted one offer to Allen, and that they wanted him to take a pay cut:

To be clear, only one offer was made. It was a pay cut for 2024 with a 2-year extension (and both years had even deeper cuts to his current pay). We made a counter offer. It was rejected. Then we were informed of the #Chargers intention to trade @Keenan13Allen.

— Joby Branion (@jobybranion) March 22, 2024

Trading Keenan Allen was one of the first big moves made by the Hortiz-Jim Harbaugh regime. The team also cut two-time 1,000-yard receiver Mike Williams in a cap saving move, and the former 2017 first-round pick went on to sign with the New York Jets.

“Looks like he knows the game really well, he’s really good.” Keenan Allen on Caleb Williams pic.twitter.com/J7AYo2wKzF

— Scott Stroud (@StroudNFL) March 16, 2024

For his career, the soon-to-be 32-year-old Allen has 904 receptions for 10,530 yards and seven touchdowns. The 108 receptions he recorded in his final year with the Chargers also marked a career-high.

Keenan Allen Will Be A Game-Changer For The Bears

Thanks largely to the arrival of superstar wide receiver D.J. Moore, the Bears more than doubled their win total (from three in 2022 to seven in 2023). With Keenan Allen joining the unit, the sky’s the limit for the Bears offense.

Caleb Williams, likely the first overall pick in next month’s draft, will have two perennial 1,000-yard weapons to throw to. Keenan Allen has hit the 1,000-yard mark in six of his 11 NFL seasons, and he’d have more 1K campaigns under his belt if it weren’t for injuries.

The new power trio of Allen, Moore and Williams are giving Bears fans good reason to feel long-term optimism after what has been a frustrating last three years in the Windy City.