5 remaining free agent options for the Detroit Lions to replace DJ Chark

With DJ Chark’s departure official now, here are five remaining free agent options for the Detroit Lions to replace him.

It always seemed likely, even as he lingered available longer than probably expected, and on Friday in became official. Wide receiver DJ Chark is leaving the Detroit Lions for a one-year free agent deal with the Carolina Panthers. The price point, $5 million according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, will surely draw ire from a segment of Lions fans who really wanted Chark back.

So the Lions could now turn to the draft for someone to replace Chark, or to what’s left on the free agent market for wide receivers. In the name of competition, maybe both make some sense.

But here and now we’re going to look at who’s left out there for free agent wide receivers. The top-end talent is gone, albeit in a thin free agent class at the position, but the Lions don’t need someone of that ilk anyway. In terms of a trade for someone like DeAndre Hopkins, that would be very shocking.

So as the Lions possibly look at veteran candidates to replace Chark, here are five free agents who may make sense.

5 remaining potential free agent options for Detroit Lions to replace DJ Chark

5. Marvin Jones

2022 Team: Jacksonville Jaguars

The idea of Jones coming back to the Lions has ramped up, as it appeared Chark wouldn’t be back and a replacement would possibly be sought elsewhere on the market. He was bumped down the pecking order in Jacksonville by the free agent additions of Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Evan Engram last offseason. So his production dropped to 46 catches last season, after he had a solid 73 catches for 832 yards for the Jaguars in 2021–which was easy to miss with all the Urban Meyer turmoil around that team then.

In his last season as a Lion, 2020, Jones had 76 receptions and nine touchdowns as he neared 1,000 yards (978). He had over 900 yards in three of five seasons as a Lion, and exactly nine touchdowns in three of five campaigns too (two seasons with both).

The age cliff may be coming, or it may be here, for the 33-year old Jones. But he would be a solid veteran presence for the Lions’ wide receiver corps, and in the locker room as a whole. It appears he has more than a little left in the tank, as a vertical threat with some red zone prowess to replace the role Chark had.

4. Julio Jones

2022 Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jones is far more name than game at this point, 34 years old now as he has struggled to stay on the field and be productive when he has been fit to play. He last played more than 10 games in 2019, his second-to-last season with the Atlanta Falcons. Naturally, his catch totals have been 51, 31 and 24 the last three seasons with the Falcons, Titans and Buccaneers respectively.

That said, last season was the first time Jones didn’t average at least 14 yards per catch since 2015. So in the right role, however small or specialized in the name of keeping him healthy more often than not, there may still be a little something to cultivate here.

The Lions are down to this type of wide receiver in free agency if they want to go that direction, and Jones wouldn’t necessarily have to be promised anything–up to an including a final 53-man roster spot.

3. DeAndre Carter

2022 Team: Los Angeles Chargers

Carter has had a well-traveled NFL career, five teams in five seasons despite spending the last two in one spot. Last season with the Chargers, with opportunity knocking as Keenan Allen and Mike Williams were banged up, he set career-highs with 46 catches for 538 yards.

Carter reportedly took a visit with the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday, as his market appears to be starting to move a little. Or heat up, as Jordan Schultz of The Score put it. The Lions could be among the teams with interest in him.

2. Rashard Higgins

2022 Team: Carolina Panthers

Higgins never quite put it all together over six seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Then he only played in three games for the Panthers last season, as he may have drawn ire from former head coach Matt Rhule. That doghouse status apparently carried all the way trhough to interim head coach Steve Wilks after Rhule was fired.

Higgins was not going to be back in Carolina next season anyway, but the additions of Chark and Adam Thielen have sealed it. Maybe the Lions consider taking a flier on him.

1. Miles Boykin

2022 Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Big hat-tip to Mike Payton of Pride of Detroit here.

Boykin never found his way in three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and one with the Steelers, with injuries and a run-heavy offense in Baltimore impacting his opportunities there. But he remains an interesting player based on physical tools (6-foot-4, 9.94 Relative Athletic Score coming out of Notre Dame in 2019).

From a pure “there may be something interesting here” angle, Boykin is the type of player who should intrigue the Lions as a cheap wide receiver flier to potentially replace Chark.