Key Takeaways
- The Chargers lost a key weapon to their offense on Thursday as Mike Williams announced his retirement after eight seasons.
- Los Angeles needs to find a replacement, and there happens to be a familiar face available – Keenan Allen.
- Allen remains a free agent, and the Bolts should reunite with the franchise legend.
Justin Herbert and Keenan Allen (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Quinn Allen shares his thoughts for RG on why the Los Angeles Chargers must sign Keenan Allen to replace Mike Williams, who has decided to retire.
The Los Angeles Chargers’ WR room suffered a loss on Thursday afternoon with Mike Williams announcing his retirement from the NFL. Williams was put on the PUP list in training camp and was reportedly dealing with a minor injury after signing a one-year deal with the Bolts this offseason.
While there was no guarantee he’d stay healthy in 2025, Williams had shown flashes of brilliance as a big-play weapon for quarterback Justin Herbert in the past. Herbert reacted to the news of Williams hanging the cleats up, via ESPN:
"When everything mattered the most, he was going to show up and that's what I'll remember most about him," Herbert said Thursday. "It was an honor to play alongside him, to throw him the ball and definitely heartbreaking, tough news to hear about. But we got his back no matter what."
The Chargers signed Williams because they were in need of more help for their signal-caller, with youngster Ladd McConkey seemingly the No. 1 option at the moment. While LA is hoping Quentin Johnston will have a breakout campaign, he’s yet to live up to expectations.
Needless to say, the Chargers need more weapons for their QB. Sure, they drafted a few wideouts in April, but that’s not enough. There happens to be one notable name out there who remains on the open market and he’s a familiar face to Bolts fans – Keenan Allen. The veteran last played for the Chicago Bears in 2024 after Los Angeles traded him last March. Allen had 70 receptions for 744 yards with the Bears, including seven touchdowns.
During Allen’s time with the Bolts, he was one of their most consistent wide receivers. The 33-year-old had five seasons where he reeled in more than 1,000 yards and had three consecutive years where he surpassed that number between 2017 and 2019.
Allen is a homegrown talent who the Chargers drafted in 2013. He’s a beloved figure of this organization and their fanbase. We’re talking about a player who sits second in all-time receptions and receiving yards in franchise history.
An established role awaits Allen. With the departure of Williams, there is an immediate need for a proven pass-catcher. Who is better than Allen, someone who already knows the offense and has chemistry with Herbert? It’s a match made in heaven. Second-round pick Tre Harris finally signed his rookie deal on Thursday, which certainly gives Los Angeles an offensive boost. Adding Allen to a group led by McConkey, Johnston, and Harris could be scary hours.
Also, from an experience standpoint, Allen is also a leader who can mentor these young wideouts. After all, he’s a 12-year veteran. Allen knows this league inside and out. McConkey, Johnston, Harris, and KeAndre Lambert-Smith are all talented, but they’re still learning the ropes in the NFL. Allen can be an important figure to help their growth as well.
Although there are other options available in free agency, like Gabe Davis and Amari Cooper, the Chargers should have their sights focused on Allen. He would be a phenomenal addition to a team that is looking to make a deep playoff run in ‘25 under Jim Harbaugh.
