Pro Bowl Receiver From The Lions Signs Contract With New York Jets As They Prepare For The Draft Pick
NFL veteran wide receiver DJ Chark signed a new contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. Chark spent the 2023 season with the Carolina Panthers but has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions.
Wide receiver DJ Chark was brought to Carolina to provide a much-needed down-the-field target for rookie quarterback Bryce Young. He led the team in average depth of target while bringing in the third-most targets.
However, he turned those deep targets to just over 500 yards on 35 receptions. Despite that, he was an efficient pass catcher, ranking second on the team in receiving first downs, behind only Adam Theilen.
Chark was drafted out of LSU in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He received minimal starting time in his rookie season, playing in only 11 games. During those games, he was targeted on 32 occasions, bringing in 14 catches.
His best season was his sophomore campaign, where he produced his only 1,000-yard season to date. For those fantasy football managers, that was the year Garner Minshew and Chark ended up as late-round sleepers.
He maintained the same efficiency into his third year but brought in less volume. In 2019, he was targeted on 118 occasions. One year later, that number fell to 93.
Injuries derailed his 2021 season, where he only played in four games. Since then, he has bounced from team to team. Chark signed a contract with the Detroit Lions in 2022. He then moved to the Panthers for the 2023 season.
DJ Chark’s ability to stay healthy will be a key aspect of his new contract. Chark has often struggled with playing time, failing to record a full season during his NFL career. Despite that, he brings a much-needed ability to stretch the field. He has averaged over 15 yards per catch in each of his last three seasons, demonstrating his skill set as a speedster.
Adding any of these receivers would bolster the Steelers’ offense since trading away their veteran offensive piece. The Metcalf trade would make sense since the team is rebuilding under new head coach Mike Macdonald, but their starters remain intact. However, it would be smart if the Seahawks wouldn’t move on from the two-time Pro Bowler but for the right price, it is possible. One source says they expect a Metcalf trade to happen after the post-June 1 designation which gives teams help to free dead money that could count against the team after their release.
Aiyuk and Sutton have a higher chance of being traded this offseason than Metcalf due to the team’s salary cap constraints. However, one could consider that the Metcalf trade discussions can become interesting, especially the Pro Bowler not voicing concern over his contract.
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