Former Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark is still available in free agency as teams continue with their rookie minicamp and begin to prepare for OTAS later this month. Chark has a rough 2024 season as he has only appeared in seven games with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The veteran wide receiver battled through injury, which affected him on the field. He only had four receptions (10 targets) for 31 yards and a touchdown.
Chark can stretch the field when healthy, evident by his 14.4 yards per catch career average. However, with guys like Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen, Tyler Boyd, and now Gabe Davis still in free agency, it might be harder for the ex-Lions wide receiver to get an opportunity.
On Wednesday, the Jacksonville Jaguars cut Davis after only one year with the team. The vet pass catcher signed a three-year, $39 million contract last offseason, but struggled to live up to that contract.
Davis was limited to 10 games in 2024 due to a torn meniscus injury, which sidelined him for the rest of the season. The veteran wideout only had 20 receptions (42 targets) for 239 yards and two touchdowns.
Despite an unexpected bad season, Davis, who is almost three years younger than Chark, has a better chance of signing with a wide receiver-needy team. The now ex-Jaguars wide receiver is better at being a vertical threat than Chark, posting a 16.2 yards per catch career average.
Before the 2024 campaign, Davis averaged 683 yards and seven touchdowns per season. As for Chark, he’s only averaged 443 yards and three touchdowns per season over his seven-year career.
Chark exploded onto the scene earlier in his career with the Jaguars, posting 73 receptions (118 targets) for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns in only his second year in the NFL.
The former second-round pick has struggled to reach that level, but he had two solid seasons with the Lions in 2022 (30 receptions for 502 yards and three touchdowns) and the Carolina Panthers in 2023 (35 receptions for 525 yards and five touchdowns).
The former Lions wideout still has some talent left in the tank. He just needs to stay healthy and find a team that needs a deep threat. However, it might be a while now with Davis, shockingly hitting the market.
