Johnson also suggested a potential landing spot he believes would appeal to his former teammate.
The Los Angeles Chargers and veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen have yet to reach an agreement on a deal that would bring the 2013 third-round pick back for a 13th season with the team, and former Bolts wideout Stevie Johnson may have shed light on why in a recent interview with Kyle Odegard of Casino.org.
Mike NowakJohnson spent his final season with the Chargers in 2015 while the team was still in San Diego. At that time, Allen was entering year three and had already established himself as a legitimate threat at the NFL level.
After Allen hauled in a team-leading 81 receptions on 122 targets for 777 yards and four touchdowns in 2025, the 33-year-old continues to prove Father Time stands no chance.
Johnson had high praise for Allen during the brief time they spent together:
“He was always on his iPad or asking other receivers what they were thinking. He wasn’t necessarily a space creator type. He was more of a technician, like Jerry Rice. Then he added some of those moves in because he was such a student of the game, to mix up his route combinations. I knew he was special... He’s a cheat code, an easy button... He knows the holes and he’s seen every defense. That’s why he can get over 700 yards at 33. And beyond."
Additionally, he felt former Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman hindered Allen's potential in 2025:
“He didn’t even utilize Keenan correctly, I would say. I’ve been in a Greg Roman offense. Keenan should’ve had over 1,000 yards and they should have dominated that playoff game. They were doing a lot of extra other stuff."
Johnson thinks Allen could be inclined to play in an offensive system like new Chargers OC Mike McDaniel’s while staying in Los Angeles, “He loves LA, so I could see him staying with Mike McDaniel, a smart offensive mind," said Johnson.
To cap of the interview Odegard, Johnson reveled a potential destination that he feels his former teammate could prefer in free agency in the Los Angeles Rams:
"I also think he’s connected with Davante Adams. I don’t think he’d mind going to the Rams, playing with them for a year and possibly getting to the Super Bowl, still in LA.”
The chance to contend for a championship while staying in the city where he developed into the player he is today could be an offer too good for Allen to pass up.