Keenan Allen has been a mainstay of the Chargers’ offense for more than a decade, and with a crucial 2023 campaign on the horizon, now is the time for him to cement his legacy as one of the best receivers in the team’s history.
Though he and Mike Williams have proven to be effective weapons for Justin Herbert, the team elected to draft receiver Quentin Johnston with their first-round pick back in April. One or both of the veteran pass catchers could be on a hot seat if they don’t perform well early in the next season.
Allen won’t go quietly into the night for Los Angeles, though. He is one of the most tenured players on the Chargers’ roster, and even after being limited to 10 games last season, he put together an effort that is sure to stick with the team’s fans for years to come.
He will be 31 at the start of the 2023 season, so some regression is possible for Allen as he embarks on his 11th year of professional football. Assuming he plays a full schedule, this should mean that he can meet or exceed his production from 2022, but at this point in the offseason, it is too early to tell.
His Pro Bowl pedigree is hard to argue with, but his share of targets may decline with Johnston on the field, so many variables will play into his counting stats at the end of the season. At this point, though, it seems likely that he will have a fire in his belly to prove that his inclusion on the Chargers roster goes unquestioned until he decides to retire.
Our prediction: 98 receptions on 122 targets for 1055 yards and 8 touchdowns.
