The Keenan Allen trade gives the San Francisco 49ers the veteran receiver they had been chasing for weeks. The Indianapolis Colts are sending the six-time Pro Bowl wideout to San Francisco for a 2027 sixth-round pick, The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero reported, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter also reported the deal on Tuesday ahead of the 4 p.m. ET deadline.
It’s a low-cost move for a 7-1 team that holds the NFC’s No. 1 seed, and it comes on the same day the 49ers are expected to finally cut ties with Brandon Aiyuk. For Indianapolis, it’s another veteran moved off a roster that is clearly building for 2027.
Keenan Allen trade terms
| Detail | What we know |
|---|---|
| 49ers get | WR Keenan Allen |
| Colts get | 2027 sixth-round pick |
| Allen’s 2026 stats | 40 catches, 351 yards, 1 TD in 8 games |
| Contract | One year, worth up to $8.32 million (signed in August) |
| Age | 34 |
The stats come from NBC Sports Boston’s live blog. The contract details come from Yahoo Sports, which noted that Allen’s one-year deal makes him a pure rental. Pelissero’s report put the compensation at a sixth-rounder, a round lower than the fifth that had been seen as the likely price.
Why the 49ers needed a receiver
San Francisco’s receiver room has been hit hard. Before Week 9, general manager John Lynch listed the injuries, according to Yahoo Sports:
- Mike Evans: Achilles injury, likely out against the Raiders.
- Deebo Samuel: Hamstring injury, also likely out.
- Ricky Pearsall: Knee injury, out for the season.
- De’Zhaun Stribling: Ankle injury, described as more than a month away.
The 49ers still beat Las Vegas 38-17 on Sunday, but Brock Purdy was working with a thin group. Evans, who has 420 receiving yards, remains the top target when healthy.
Allen wasn’t San Francisco’s first choice. Fox’s Jay Glazer reported the 49ers had a deal in place to bring Jauan Jennings back from the Minnesota Vikings, and head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed most of that report. The deal fell apart when Jennings told the 49ers he preferred to stay in Minnesota, Yahoo Sports reported.
What Keenan Allen brings at 34
Allen is a 14-year veteran with more than 1,000 career receptions and six 1,000-yard seasons, according to Yahoo Sports. He’s known for his route running, the kind of skill that holds up as speed fades. He also played his college football at Cal, so this is a return to the Bay Area.
The production has dipped. He caught 81 passes for 777 yards and four touchdowns with the Chargers last season, and he had 351 yards through eight games in Indianapolis. San Francisco isn’t asking him to carry the offense. It needs a reliable target on third down while Evans and Samuel work back from injuries.
The challenge is the playbook. Asked earlier this month how hard it is for a receiver to learn the 49ers’ system in November, Shanahan answered, “Yeah, big time,” according to Yahoo Sports. Allen’s experience should shorten that learning curve, but it won’t erase it.
Keenan Allen trade grades
FanSided graded the deal an A-minus for San Francisco and an A for Indianapolis. The outlet argued the 49ers had to add a receiver given their injuries, and that the Colts got fair value for a veteran who doesn’t fit their timeline.
That matches how the deal looks on paper. A sixth-round pick is close to the minimum price for any useful player at the deadline, and San Francisco takes on only the rest of a one-year contract. The Colts, at 2-7, add another 2027 pick after earlier trading guard Quenton Nelson to Seattle and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner back to San Francisco.
Where the Colts’ sell-off stands
Allen is the third veteran Indianapolis has moved this fall:
| Player | New team | Colts received |
|---|---|---|
| G Quenton Nelson | Seahawks | 2027 third, 2028 fifth |
| DL DeForest Buckner | 49ers | 2027 fourth |
| WR Keenan Allen | 49ers | 2027 sixth |
More could follow before 4 p.m. ET. The Chiefs are seen as the leader for receiver Josh Downs, Charles Robinson reported, with the Colts holding out for a third-round pick. Fox’s Jay Glazer called a Jonathan Taylor trade a 50/50 proposition, and The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero reported the Colts told quarterback Daniel Jones they won’t trade him.
A busy day for the 49ers
The Allen trade is only half of San Francisco’s Tuesday. Pro Football Talk reported that the 49ers are likely to release Brandon Aiyuk before the deadline, a day after the NFL reinstated him. Our Brandon Aiyuk release story has the details on the money involved and where he could land.
Allen’s arrival also helps explain why the Aiyuk decision is easy for San Francisco. The 49ers wanted a receiver who could play right away, not one who hasn’t taken a snap since October 2024.
Other teams were in the receiver market too. The Steelers had been looking at veterans on expiring deals, and Allen was one of the names that fit, according to SI’s Steelers coverage. ESPN’s Schefter and Rapoport also listed Kansas City and Pittsburgh among the teams making calls for receivers before the deadline.
Fantasy impact of the Keenan Allen trade
- Keenan Allen: A deep-league flex option once he’s up to speed. His target share in Indianapolis kept him relevant, and Purdy’s offense creates easier looks, but he’ll share the field once Evans and Samuel return.
- Brock Purdy: A small boost. Another dependable target helps while the injured receivers recover.
- Colts receivers: With Allen gone, Josh Downs (if he isn’t traded himself) should see more targets.
Our Week 10 start/sit covers the rest of the lineup decisions.
What’s next for the 49ers
San Francisco heads to Dallas on Sunday afternoon, then plays the Vikings in Mexico City in Week 11. The 49ers already hold the No. 2 spot in our Week 10 power rankings, and this trade makes them deeper for the stretch run.
Every completed deal from deadline day is in our NFL trade deadline tracker.
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