Colts Trade Keenan Allen to 49ers for Sixth-Round Pick
Indianapolis sends the expiring-contract receiver to San Francisco shortly before the NFL trade deadline.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Football
The Indianapolis Colts traded wide receiver Keenan Allen to the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday, a few hours before the NFL trade deadline. In exchange, the Colts received a sixth-round draft pick.
Why it matters
Allen is on an expiring contract and will become a free agent at season's end, which made him a candidate to be moved. The deal gives the 49ers a veteran target as they look to strengthen their passing offense.
Allen posted four catches for 26 yards on eight targets against the Cowboys in Week 9. The source does not provide his season totals or how his usage will change with San Francisco.
The players
Keenan Allen
Veteran wide receiver traded from the Colts to the 49ers, who is on an expiring contract.
Indianapolis Colts
NFL franchise based in Indianapolis that traded Allen and received a sixth-round pick in return.
San Francisco 49ers
NFL franchise based in San Francisco that acquired Allen and hopes he can help quarterback Brock Purdy's offense right away.
The details
The Colts completed the trade just after lunchtime Tuesday, two days after a narrow Week 9 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in which Allen was on the roster. Two weeks earlier, Indianapolis had also traded DeForest Buckner to the 49ers.
Timeline
Week 9: Colts lose narrowly to the Cowboys, with Allen catching four passes.
Two days later: NFL trade deadline arrives; Colts trade Allen to San Francisco on Tuesday.
Week 10: Allen prepares to face the Cowboys as a 49er.
End of season: Allen's contract expires and he becomes a free agent.
Season Trajectory
The deal comes just before the NFL trade deadline, a window that lets contenders add veterans for the stretch run. Allen's move reflects how teams weigh expiring contracts against immediate roster needs during the season.
Fantasy managers who rostered Allen will need to account for a new offense and quarterback in San Francisco. The trade removes a veteran target from Indianapolis's passing game for the rest of the season.
The takeaway
Mid-season trades like this one often hinge on contract status, so expiring veterans frequently change teams before the deadline. Readers tracking the NFL should watch which teams act before the window closes.
What happens next
Allen's contract expires at the end of the season, when he becomes a free agent.
Further reading
For more on league roster moves, see the Football section.
