The Los Angeles Chargers are adding a familiar face to the fold ahead of the 2025 NFL season.
Veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen agreed to a one-year deal with the Chargers on Tuesday, Aug. 5, according to multiple reports.
Allen, 33, spent the first 11 seasons of his career playing for the Chargers and recorded 10,530 receiving yards with them, second-most in franchise history behind Antonio Gates’ 11,841. He was traded to the Chicago Bears ahead of the 2024 campaign before returning to Los Angeles for the upcoming season.
Allen recorded 70 catches for 744 yards and seven touchdowns last season in Chicago, and finished second on the team in targets (121) behind only DJ Moore (140). What can be expected of him in 2025? Here’s a look at how the veteran might fit in on Los Angeles’ wide receiver depth chart.
Chargers WR depth chart
The Chargers released their first unofficial depth chart before news broke that they were signing Allen. It isn’t clear exactly where the veteran fits into the pecking order, but he might battle with second-round rookie Tre’ Harris for a top-three receiver job behind Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston.
Below is a look at where Allen could land within the top-listed receivers on Los Angeles’ depth chart.
Ladd McConkey*
Quentin Johnston*
Keenan Allen
Jalen Reagor
Derius Davis
Tre’ Harris
KeAndre Lambert-Smith
The Chargers have a relatively young receiver room to which Allen adds much-needed experience. The only question is whether he will win a top-three receiver job – which would make him likely to play a plurality of the team’s offensive snaps – or whether he will serve as an experienced super-sub off the bench.
Allen’s status may depend on the type of shape he is and how ready some of the Chargers’ young receivers, like Harris and fellow rookie Lambert-Smith, are to make an impact. The second- and fifth-round rookies figure to climb the depth chart as the preseason continues.
Allen’s presence shouldn’t have a major impact on McConkey, who will remain Los Angeles’ No. 1 receiver after generating 82 catches, 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie. That said, it will be worth monitoring which of them plays primarily in the slot, as both played a majority of their snaps inside last season (Allen 52.8%, McConkey 63.8%).
It’s also worth noting the Chargers kept seven receivers on its 53-man roster entering the 2025 NFL season, so Los Angeles could keep all seven of the receivers listed above. Brenden Rice might end up being the player most impacted by Allen’s signing, as the 2024 seventh-round pick now faces increased competition for a roster spot.
Other receivers battling for spots within the Chargers organization include Dez Fitzpatrick, Jaylen Johnson, JaQuae Jackson, Luke Grimm and Dalevon Campbell.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Keenan Allen signing impacts Chargers’ WR depth chart
