3 best moves the Detroit Lions have made this offseason

3. Letting DJ Chark go

When Chark was healthy down the stretch last season, he was a nice combination of productive (20.8 yards per catch from Week 13-17) and clutch (two big fourth down catches in Week 18) as the Lions’ offense operated with nice proficiency. But over 11 total games last season, Chark’s numbers (30 catches for 502 yards, three touchdowns) were a disappointment.

In a thin free agent market for wide receivers, it was easy to think Chark could cash in rather nicely. As he lingered available for a little while, the idea the Lions could bring him back naturally came. He ultimately signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Carolina Panthers, which some Lions fans could lament if that’s all it would have taken to bring him back. But given that’s all he got, it seems the Lions never intended to bring him back–at any price.

More recently, it was revealed Chark had another surgery on his lingering troublesome ankle this offseason. It seems the Lions would have had inside knowledge that would be the case, hence a lack of effort to re-sign him.

The six-game gambling suspension to start the season for Jameson Williams may rekindle the notion the Lions should have re-signed Chark. But that’s a stretch with the benefit of hindsight. The Lions may have known Williams was in the league’s investigation crosshairs for impermissable gambling fairly well before the suspension was handed down, but it doesn’t mean Chark should have been re-signed.

The Lions may miss Chark a little bit, in fleeting moments, while Williams is suspended. But they won’t miss him enough to make them regret they didn’t bring him back.