After signing a one-year, $10 million deal with the Detroit Lions last offseason, DJ Chark posted 30 receptions for 502 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games. Chark battled an ankle injury that cost him six games, but he provided a deep threat for Jared Goff and posted a career-high 16.7 yards per reception.
Now that Jakobi Meyers has signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, Chark and Odell Beckham Jr. are the two best wide receivers remaining on Pro Football Network’s free agent rankings. Where are his best landing spots around the NFL?
Who Will Sign DJ Chark in Free Agency?
Detroit Lions
The Lions have been active in free agency, but most of their additions have come on the defensive side of the ball. C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Cameron Sutton, and Emmanuel Moseley are in town to help solve Detroit’s secondary woes, while the Lions also re-signed linebacker Alex Anzalone and defensive lineman John Cominsky.
On offense, Detroit added David Montgomery to replace Jamaal Williams, but they haven’t done any work on their receiving corps. If the season started today, the Lions would line up Amon-Ra St. Brown and 2022 first-round selection Jameson Williams as their starting receivers, but they still need a third option.
MORE: 2023 NFL Free Agency Tracker
Lions general manager Brad Holmes indicated earlier this year that re-signing Chark was on the table, and Chark seems to have enjoyed his time in Detroit.
“One thing I can say about the coaches in Detroit, they really — they know your kid’s names, and they’re really into like who you are as a person,” Chark said. “Whereas that’s not always the case. A lot of different personalities that mesh well.”
The Lions still have more than $22 million in remaining cap space. Given that he missed time last season, Chark is unlikely to command another $10 million price tag, so a reunion in Detroit could make sense.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are the only team known to have met with Chark, having hosted him for a free agent visit last week. Carolina has since signed former Minnesota Vikings receiver Adam Thielen to a three-year deal, but the club is still interested in Chark. In regards to adding Chark, general manager Scott Fitterer said this week that the Panthers have “gotta let that [situation] play out.”
Bringing in Thielen represents a starting point for Carolina, but they still need more pass catchers. The Panthers sent DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears as a part of a trade to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, leaving their depth chart bereft of options.
Thielen will be a guaranteed starter. At present, former second-round pick Terrace Marshall Jr. and trade acquisition Laviska Shenault would likely line up as Carolina’s next-best receivers. The Panthers have a few intriguing options, like ex-Miami Dolphin Preston Williams and 2021 sixth-rounder Shi Smith, but they could use a proven wideout in the mix.
Given that Carolina will draft its franchise quarterback with the No. 1 pick, the club needs to ensure that the rookie signal-caller is surrounded with weapons. The Panthers have already built a solid offensive line and signed Miles Sanders to buoy their running game. Bringing in (at least) one more receiver is the next logical step.
New England Patriots
Jakobi Meyers, the Patriots’ leading receiver in each of the last three seasons, departed for the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason. Free agent signing JuJu Smith-Schuster will replace Meyers in the slot, but New England could stand to add another outside receiver like Chark.
The Patriots acquired DeVante Parker from the Dolphins last offseason, but he’s only topped 800 yards once in his seven-year NFL career. He managed just 539 yards last year while missing time with injuries.
MORE: Remaining 2023 NFL Free Agents by Position
New England could expect more from 2022 rookie Tyquan Thornton, but Kendrick Bourne was largely removed from the club’s offense last season.
The upcoming campaign is shaping up as a critical one for third-year New England quarterback Mac Jones. New offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien should help, but Chark would bring an explosive element to a Patriots offense that has struggled to create chunk yardage.
Minnesota Vikings
Thielen’s departure has created a wide receiver void for the Vikings. Justin Jefferson is the best receiver in the league and can singlehandedly take over games, but Minnesota needs to add competent pass catchers around him.
K.J. Osborn looks like the best bet to take over Thielen’s snaps, while the Vikings could also give more reps to 2022 sixth-round pick Jalen Nailor or trade pickup Jalen Reagor. However, neither of those options is as accomplished as Chark.
There are issues with the fit. Minnesota already has tight end T.J. Hockenson as its No. 2 receiver, so Chark might want to find a landing spot where he’d have more opportunities. And the Vikings have the least cap space in the league, so finding the funds to even add Chark could prove difficult.
But if Minnesota were able to create a bit more cap space, they might consider signing Chark. At the very least, his addition would mean the Vikings wouldn’t be locked into selecting a wide receiver early in the 2023 draft.
Green Bay Packers
Let’s stick in the NFC North, where the Packers could use another receiver — regardless of who’s playing quarterback.
Aaron Rodgers looks to be on his way to New York, leaving Jordan Love under center in Green Bay. Love has received plenty of praise from the Packers’ decision-makers this offseason, but the former first-round pick has attempted just 83 passes at the NFL level.
Green Bay has an excellent offensive line, while Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon headline a productive rushing attack. But the Packers’ receiving depth chart leaves a lot to be desired.
MORE: Does Aaron Rodgers Make the New York Jets Super Bowl Contenders?
2022 draft choices Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs both flashed in their rookie years and will likely be Green Bay’s starting wideouts, but the Packers need more depth, especially given that they no longer have a proven tight end after losing Robert Tonyan to free agency.
Samori Toure, Jeff Cotton, and Bo Melton currently project as Green Bay’s backup wide receivers, and they have 10 career targets between them (all Toure’s).
The Packers rank fifth in the NFL with $23+ million in cap space. While they’ll take on some dead money by trading Rodgers, they should have enough room to add another receiver. Chark would give Love a receiver with a significant track record of experience who could make an impact in 2023.
