Keenan Allen may not be as “explosive” as he used to be, per say … but the fact remains that the Dallas Cowboys still do not have a definitive WR2 next to CeeDee Lamb. Mock drafts say the Cowboys could very likely find that player in the first few rounds of the NFL Draft, and we aren’t disagreeing with that idea.

But we wouldn’t be surprised if the front office went another direction, either. In the event that owner Jerry Jones has another prospect in mind in the Draft, the free agency market would be the next best option to find Dallas a starting-caliber receiver.

Except … the well is almost dried up. The Cowboys have missed on numerous rumor mill proposals, including Cooper Kupp, Stefon Diggs and DK Metcalf to name a few. Was Dallas going to cough up loads of money for those guys to be a second option? No way. That’s why many of them signed $20 million deals elsewhere, despite any Cowboys rumors. However, there are still some options that may be slightly more affordable.

One player still searching for a new home is Keenan Allen from the Chicago Bears. The longtime Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver spent 11 seasons in SoCal before getting traded to the Chicago Bears before the 2024 season in exchange for a fourth-round pick.

After a one-year, $18.1 million contract, Allen has now become an unrestricted free agent. In many eyes, he is the top receiver still available right now. The Dallas Cowboys could change that. And it wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

Allen is 32 years old, and while 2024 was the biggest production drop off of his career thus far, context matters. He was in a Chicago offense lead by an up-and-down rookie quarterback in Caleb Williams and a crowded receiver room alongside DJ Moore and Rome Odunze.

Still, Allen found ways to contribute. He progressively got better as last season went on and was Chicago’s most reliable target on third downs and in the red zone. He put up 744 yards and seven touchdowns on 70 receptions as a second option (27.3% target share).

Allen’s play style may be reminiscent of Brandin Cooks’ – and we saw how that played out in Dallas – but under new coaching, the Cowboys may find a fit for Allen’s strengths in the gameplan.

He may not blow the top off of defenses with down-field speed, but his precise route-running, elite hands, and overall veteran reliability would serve quarterback Dak Prescott well. He also has been known to be a willing run blocker on the outside – something that could benefit a Brian Schottenheimer offensive scheme.

There’s no guarantee you can get that kind of reliability out of a rookie. Allen still provides a lot of value, especially in a second-option role … but an issue for the Cowboys would be the financials.

Dallas still has some spending money, but they likely will not pay top dollar for a receiver when they could invest in a rookie or find a cheaper option. Allen’s Spotrac market value is set at $11.1 million annually, which could work out in the Cowboys’ favor on a one-year experimental deal. But remember, he was given $18 million last year … he could have a much steeper asking price than his perceived value.

Nonetheless, Keenan Allen is as enticing a free agent receiver as there is on the market. Whether or not Dallas looks to invest in his services depends on their plans in this month’s NFL Draft and any other “selectively aggressive” moves this offseason.