5 teams DJ Chark could leave the Detroit Lions for in free agency

1. Chicago Bears

Completing the NFC North trifecta here, but the Bears occupy this spot for good reason.

If the Bears are going to get the most out of Justin Fields, with acknowledgement he needs to improve as a passer and it out there they won’t be trading him and taking a quarterback No. 1 overall, they have to surround him with more weapons. Equanimeous St. Brown, Byron Pringle and guys of that ilk in prominent wide receier roles won’t cut it moving forward. Their best wide receiver last season, Darnell Mooney, ended this season out with an ankle injury and that further exposed how bad the rest of the wide receiver room was.

The Bears are in the best position of any team entering the offseason. They have the most cap space in the league right now by a healty margin ($90.9 million, according to Over The Cap; the Atlanta Falcons sit second right now at $56.42 million). Trading the first overall pick, if it happens, will add draft capital assets to the mix too.

The Bears really don’t have to rule out anything in free agency, or on the trade market, to add talent. Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report put Chark on his list of upcoming free agents who could blow up on new teams in 2023, with mention of the Bears as a “wide receiver-needy” team who can offer an increased target share.

"Chark’s role in Motown isn’t likely to increase next season. Amon-Ra St. Brown is Jared Goff’s unquestioned favorite target. Jameson Williams should be a big part of the Lions offense in 2023 after barely playing as a rookie. But if Chark lands with a receiver-needy team like the Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns or New York Giants, he could see a sizable increase in target share."

The Bears got a close look at a healthy Chark late in the season, however limited in a blowout win for the Lions. Team need, a residual opportunity that can be offered and the ability to pay him the most if they want to may ultimately bring Chark to Chicago.