Since being drafted in the 3rd round, 76th overall of the 2013 NFL draft, Keenan Allen has emerged as the most explosive offensive weapon the San Diego Chargers have seen at the wide receiver position in recent memory. The Chargers seemingly have taken notice to this, extending his contract for 4 years which locks him up until 2020 with $24.156 million dollars guaranteed. In terms of guaranteed money, the 24 year old Allen out of Cal Berkeley is now the 6th most paid wide receiver in the league. In my opinion, the Chargers got him for a bargain.

Keenan has accumulated 215 catches, 2,554 yards and 16 touchdowns in his first 37 career games. This averages out to 92 catches, 1,104 yards, and 8 touchdowns over a 16 game season which would have placed him comfortably as a top 15 wide receiver in terms of yards last season. So why is he getting top 6 wide receiver money? In a “what have you done for me lately” kind of league, Allen’s 2015 season must have played a significant part.

Allen was one of 12 (yes, 12!) Chargers players who left their week 8 battle against the Ravens early due to injury. At the end of the second quarter, Allen made a highlight reel touchdown catch which ultimately proved to be his last touchdown, catch, and play of the 2015 season thanks to the lacerated spleen he suffered coming down with the ball. It ended what could have been a record breaking season prematurely.

At the time of his injury, Allen had 67 catches, was third in the league with 725 receiving yards and was showing no signs of stopping. Those 67 catches through 8 games was the third most in NFL history, and he was well on his way to shattering the Chargers record of 100 catches in a season by LaDainian Tomlinson in 2003.

Unsurprisingly, Allen had a positive effect on the offense as a whole when he was on the field. Through the first 8 games that Allen played in, Chargers QB Philip Rivers had thrown for 18 touchdowns with 7 interceptions, good for a 2.57 touchdown/interception ratio. The remaining 8 games of the season? 11 touchdowns to 6 interceptions for a 1.83 ratio, a sizable decline. The last eight included 2 games where River failed to throw for a single touchdown.

Even the Chargers run game operated more effectively when Allen was on the field. Running backs averaged 86 yards per game with Allen on the field and 83 without. While the drop off is not significant, it can partially be explained by the Chargers being forced to run more without a dynamic weapon in the passing game.

Now that Allen is secured through the 2020 season, with Rivers also signed through 2019, the Chargers offense should hold their charge for the foreseeable future.