Keenan Allen has never known anything but the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers during his NFL career, and the franchise's decision to trade him to the Chicago Bears this offseason reportedly "stunned and hurt" him.

Kris Rhim of ESPN cited sources close to the wide receiver who said he was not pleased with how the team handled contract negotiations and ultimately traded him even though he had previously expressed a desire to stay.

From the team's perspective, it was anything but an easy situation heading into the first offseason for general manager Joe Hortiz and head coach Jim Harbaugh.

The Chargers were approximately $20 million over the salary cap and ended up releasing wide receiver Mike Williams and convincing pass-rushers Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa to take pay cuts. As for Allen, he had a $5 million roster bonus due on March 17 that served as a de facto deadline to make a decision.

Rhim noted Los Angeles hoped Allen would also accept a pay cut and two-year extension that would feature an average salary of less than his base $18 million. The front office also rejected the receiver's counteroffer for a larger contract and traded him to the Bears for a fourth-round pick shortly before that deadline on March 14.

The sources Rhim spoke to said "the Chargers' unwillingness to negotiate is what stunned Allen."

He surely felt that way in large part because he is a franchise icon who has done nothing but produce since the Chargers selected him in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft. The six-time Pro Bowler has six seasons of more than 1,000 receiving yards and was still quite productive at 31 years old in 2023 with 108 catches for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns.

The catch total was a career-best mark, and the 2017 season was his only one with more yards.

Still, he was moved and will now begin a new chapter of his career as a presumed veteran leader for a Bears team that is well-positioned to make a playoff run in the NFC in 2024 if potential No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams plays well under center.

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Caleb Williams and Keenan Allen link ahead of USC's Pro Day 🤝<a href="">@CALEBcsw</a> | <a href="">@uscfb</a> <a href="">

There is no shortage of weapons with DJ Moore, Allen, D'Andre Swift and Cole Kmet, and the team has momentum after going 5-3 in the final eight games of the 2023 season. Allen should also see plenty of single coverage playing alongside Moore and could even improve on his numbers from a season ago.

If he does, he might even win his first playoff game since the 2018 campaign.