Less than two months into their tenures with the Los Angeles Chargers, coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz made a franchise-changing choice.
The Chargers' longest-tenured player was wide receiver Keenan Allen, who was chosen in 2013 and caught passes from Philip Rivers in San Diego and Justin Herbert in Los Angeles.
Allen told reporters that he wanted to retire with the Chargers and had the best season of his career in 2023, with 108 receptions, 1,243 yards, and seven touchdowns in 13 games.
However, after Allen refused a contract extension with a lower price, the organization traded him to the Chicago Bears for a fourth-round pick.
The fanbase that applauded Harbaugh and Hortiz's hiring as the move that team owner Dean Spanos had finally
gotten right was now chastising them for moving one of the team's best and most cherished players.
The bright lining was that evaluators praised the 2024 draft class's receiver talent, and the Chargers had the fifth pick
. It appeared to be a wonderful opportunity to replace Allen with Herbert, a dynamic young wide receiver.