Cross another potential wide receiver trade target off the list for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday afternoon the San Francisco 49ers have acquired wide receiver Keenan Allen from the Indianapolis Colts. The 49ers agreed to send a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Colts for the veteran receiver.
“Trade! The Colts are sending six-time Pro Bowl WR Keenan Allen to the 49ers for a 2027 sixth-round pick,” wrote Pelissero on X.
Fellow NFL insiders Jordan Schultz and Adam Schefter also reported the trade.
Allen is in his 14th NFL season. He’s well past his prime, but he was a potential Steelers target because he was expected to be cheap to acquire. In the end, it cost the 49ers just a mid-Day 3 selection to land the wideout.
Before the trade, Allen had 40 catches in eight games for the Colts. However, he averaged a career-low 8.8 yards per reception. With that average, Allen had 351 receiving yards and one touchdown in Indianapolis.
Last season, Allen registered 81 catches, 777 receiving yards, averaging 9.6 yards per reception, and four touchdowns in 17 games with the Los Angeles Chargers.
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San Francisco added Allen amid the team experiencing depth concerns at wide receiver.
Starters Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel are both currently sidelined because of injuries. Additionally, fellow wideouts Christian Kirk, De’Shaun Stribling and Ricky Pearsall are on injured reserve. Pearsall will miss the remainder of the season.
Allen has experienced a terrific career. Whether or not this is a miss for the Steelers, though, is up for debate.
At 34-year-old, Allen isn’t the same caliber receiver he once was. He’s also not the outside threat the Steelers really need.
Even in his prime, Allen was a possession receiver who played a lot in the slot. He’s averaged 11.3 yards per reception over his entire career.
Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora didn’t see Pittsburgh not acquiring Allen as a huge loss.
“Had no interest in Steelers adding Allen, so I’m fine with this,” wrote Kozora as his initial reaction.
Social media had some fun with the ages of the wide receivers on the 49ers roster. Allen, Evans and Brandin Cooks are all at least 32 years old. Samuel and Kirk are or will be 30 by the end of this month.
In 14 seasons, Allen has posted 1,095 catches and 12,402 receiving yards with 71 touchdowns. From 2017-23, Allen made six Pro Bowls.
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