Keenan Allen’s agent has contradicted a statement made by Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz regarding the contract negotiations preceding Allen’s trade to the Chicago Bears.
Hortiz claimed on Thursday that the Chargers had presented Allen with multiple contract options, but none were successful, as reported by Eric Smith of Chargers.com.
However, Joby Branion, identified by Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio as Allen’s agent, contested Hortiz’s remarks in response to The Athletic’s Daniel Popper on X.
“To be clear, only one offer was made,” Branion stated. “It was a pay cut for 2024 with a two-year extension (and both years had even deeper cuts to his current pay).”
Currently, Allen’s cap hit for 2024 stands at $23.1 million.
Branion revealed that after Allen’s camp made a counteroffer, which was turned down, they were informed of the Chargers’ decision to trade him to the Bears.
Allen was subsequently traded to the Bears on March 14 in return for a 2024 fourth-round pick.
Branion’s statement echoes Allen’s own comments made during his introductory press conference with the Bears, as reported by Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. Allen mentioned that he was traded by the Chargers after refusing a pay cut.
“It really was no emotion, it was ‘I’m not doing it,'” Allen remarked. “I’m not doing it. I just came off my best season, so it’s not happening.”
Last season, Allen achieved a career-high 108 receptions for 1,243 yards in 13 starts for the Chargers, marking his sixth career Pro Bowl appearance.
Selected by the Chargers in the third round of the 2013 draft, Allen departs the franchise ranking second in team history with 10,530 career receiving yards accumulated over 11 seasons.
