DJ Chark is one of the Detroit Lions’ notable free agents, but one of these five teams could definitely sign him away.
Coming off an ankle injury early in the 2021 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, wide receiver DJ Chark signed a one-year “prove-it” deal with the Detroit Lions. For a big chunk of the season, things did not go as planned.
Chark and Jared Goff struggled to connect early this season. Then Chark aggravated his previous ankle injury, and he missed six games. He returned to heavy snaps shares in Week 11 and Week 12, but production was still slow.
Then from Week 13, something clicked for Chark. His ankle was surely in better shape, and the connection with Goff improved. He topped 90 yards in three of four games from Week 13-16, and from Week 13-17 he averaged 20.8 yards per catch.
Chark didn’t have a huge game in Week 18 against the Green Bay Packers, but two of his three catches converted first downs on critical fourth downs in the final quarter. So all in all, his finish to the season showed he can be what the Lions envisioned he would be when they signed him.
Chark joined the parade of Lions’ free agents who’ve said they want to be back with the team. It’s unclear if the feeling is mutual, or if the Lions think Jameson Williams can be a seamless in-house replacement for Chark as a deep threat next season.
In any case, beyond contract terms (years and money), better or more clear-cut on-field opportunity may knock for Chark elsewhere in free agency. That would be hard for him to ignore, no matter how bad he wants to remain a Lion.
In particular, the Lions could lose Chark to one of these five teams in free agency.
5 teams DJ Chark could leave the Detroit Lions for in 2023 free agency
5. Green Bay Packers
The Packers may or may not have Aaron Rodgers under center next season, which naturally creates a question about their appeal to veteran free agents. Quite simply, Jordan Love is a great unknown if he’s going to finally be the starter.
But Allen Lazard is a free agent, and his comments after the final game of season (against the Lions, of course) suggest he may not be back in Green Bay.
"Definitely going into the game I kind of had a realization that my first game here and potentially my last game — which it is — was going to be versus the Lions at home,”. “I took in just a few moments just to kind of soak it all in and just like pat myself on the back, I guess, and just be thankful for this opportunity and this experience to be here for four-plus years now, to see the growth I’ve made on the field, but more so off the field.”"
Asked about Rodgers being back in same post-game session at his locker, Lazard got a little testy even though his voice tone didn’t change much.
"I don’t f*ckin’ know, sh*t, I don’t know where I’m gonna be at, I can’t worry about someone else.”"
Independent of Lazard’s status, the Packers could use some better experienced options at wide receiver instead of retreads like Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb. Chark would fit that.
4. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have a perpetual need for better talent at wide receiver, which lands them on lists for about any notable one who may be available (DeAndre Hopkins being the latest).
Baltimore’s lack of appeal as a free agent destination for wide receivers lately is a chicken-or-the-egg situation, blamed on Lamar Jackson’s limitations as a passer or offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s lack of imagination. Roman is gone now, which lends to the idea the offense will change some (for the better?) with a new play-caller who may want to throw the ball a little more. But Jackson is a free agent, and that’s a cloud currently hanging over the whole team. The Ravens can use the franchise tag to keep him for 2023, but that may make an already seemingly contentious situation even moreso.
With Rashod Bateman hopefully healthy and able to stay that way next season, the Ravens could trade for Hopkins, then still sign someone like Chark with the cap space they currently have ($26.8 million, according to Over The Cap) and have a pretty good-looking top trio of wide receivers.
Baltimore’s quarterback situation is broadly uncertain, even if they hold the franchise tag in their pocket with Jackson. Without or without their former MVP signal caller, Chark could easily be on their radar in free agency.
3. Minnesota Vikings
The biggest problem right now for the Vikings is salary cap space. As in, they currently sit almost $23.5 million over the number for 2023. So they have some work to do there, and it seems long-time wide receiver Adam Thielen will be gone this offseason. Cutting or trading him would go a long way toward getting cap-compliant, and K.J. Osborn would then be in line to take over as the No. 2 receiver behind Justin Jefferson.
Drafting a wide receiver fairly early or giving Jalen Nailor a long look for a bigger role would be on the table for the Vikings too, if only due to cost as they maneuver to get under the cap and field a viable roster.
Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus honed in on Chark as a free agent target for the Vikings.
"Minnesota has a very solid trio of wide receivers in place, but Adam Thielen is starting to show signs of aging and K.J. Osborn is entering the final year of his contract in 2023, so Chark represents a solid depth option who perhaps earns himself a bigger role in 2024 and beyond. Chark was also teammates at LSU in 2017 with Vikings superstar Justin Jefferson. Chark’s 14.1-yard average depth of target and 14.5 yards per reception over the past four seasons are both top-20 marks among wide receivers. He would add another element to the Vikings’ high-flying passing attack."
Judd Zulgad of Vikings Wire and SKOR North recently mentioned Chark as a possible free agent target for the Vikings, while also mentioning that wide receiver may fall down their list of priorities in free agency.
"The 6-foot-4 Chark, who will turn 27 in September, would provide the Vikings with a vertical threat. He averaged 16.7 yards on 30 receptions with three touchdowns this season but figures to be pursued by multiple clubs"
The Vikings could clearly use a vertical threat of Chark’s ilk. The questions are if they will notably dip into the free agent market at wide receiver, and if they’ll be able to make a competitive offer. Spotrac’s projected market value for Chark, $9.5 million per year on a three-year deal, would surely be too rich for the Vikings (and any other team with interest?). But it also feels unlikely to be met by the reality of what he gets on the open market, even if supply and demand drives up his cost.
2. New York Giants
No offense to those guys, but by the end of this season Isaiah Hodgins and Richie James were the Giants’ No. 1 and No. 2 wide receivers based on target volume. Kenny Golladay can be cut this offseason, with some dead money pain that will be worth it, and Darius Slayton is a free agent. So it’s safe to say wide receiver is among their biggest needs, as they look to build off a surprising playoff campaign in Brian Daboll’s first season as head coach.
Daniel Jones seems likely to be back as the Giants’ quarterback, and there seems to be mutual sentiment pointing to running back Saquon Barkley being back too. So the two top internal Giants’ offensive free agents will likely be back, it’ll just be a matter of building the skill talent around them.
The Giants currently have just shy of $44.3 million in cap space, third-most in the league per Over The Cap. So there won’t be much to keep them from targeting a narrow set of big needs in free agency, on the assumption Jones and Barkley are back one way or the other (multi-year deal, franchise tag).
The Giants, albeit the previous general manager Dave Gettleman, swung big and missed bigger on a former Lions’ wide receiver in free agency a couple years ago (Golladay). Fans will surely note that if Chark is signed, but this is an entirely different situation this time around and there could be a nice match here.
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.