The 49ers made a deadline move to patch up a battered receiver room, landing Keenan Allen from the Colts in exchange for a sixth-round pick, according to Tom Pelissero.
It’s the second trade between these teams this season after Indianapolis already sent DeForest Buckner to San Francisco a couple of weeks ago.
San Francisco needed the help. The 49ers have been hit hard by receiver injuries, with Mike Evans, Ricky Pearsall, De’Zhaun Stribling, Deebo Samuel and Christian Kirk all part of the problem. Allen gives them another veteran body and a proven target as they try to keep the offense moving.
The 49ers were also linked to Josh Downs, but Allen wound up being the move, and likely the cheaper one. He’s in his 14th NFL season after signing a one-year deal with the Colts this offseason, and while he’s no longer at his peak, he’s still producing. Allen is second on Indianapolis in receiving with 40 catches for 351 yards and a touchdown.
That production should translate into immediate value for a San Francisco team built around older core players and still chasing a Super Bowl run. Allen, 34, has long been a reliable third-down option, including last season with the Chargers, and that could make him especially useful for Brock Purdy in key spots.
From the Colts’ side, the deal fits the direction they’re already taking. Indianapolis has been moving pieces, having already dealt Buckner and Quenton Nelson this season, and Allen was headed for free agency anyway because of his one-year contract. Now he gets a chance to finish the season with a contender.
The Colts also continue to position themselves for the future. They’ll be thinner at receiver after moving Allen, and if Downs is dealt later, that would be another sign they’re not treating this as a contending season. A sixth-round pick isn’t a massive haul, but it gives Indianapolis some value for a veteran who was leaving soon and adds another draft asset for next year.
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