Detroit Lions: 3 best offseason additions in 2022

Detroit Lions top offseason pickup no. 2: WR D.J. Chark (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Every year seems to be a rebuilding season for the Jacksonville Jaguars as of late. So was it really a surprise to see a former Pro Bowl player change addresses and join a team that despite its win-loss record in 2021 caught some people’s attention?

It only seemed like the New Orleans Saints scooped up every former NFL free agent that went to school at LSU. But four-year wide receiver D.J. Chark wound up signing a one-year contract, $10 million deal with the Detroit Lions. The 2018 second-round pick of the Jaguars looks to revitalize his career and is coming off a season in which he played in only four games while catch just seven passes.

But during his second season in the league, Chark blossomed after a shaky rookie campaign. In his debut year, he played in 11 games and caught only 14 passes for 174 yards and zero touchdowns. In ’19, he totaled 73 receptions for 1,008 yards and eight scores in 15 outings while earning a Pro Bowl invitation. Those numbers slipped to 53 grabs for 706 yards and five touchdowns in 13 games a year later.

Chark joins a promising receiving corps that includes Amon-Ra St. Brown, who caught 90 passes for 912 yards and five scores. There’s Kalif Raymond and Josh Reynolds and eventually Jameson Williams. The latter is currently on the non-football injury list. General manager Brad Holmes is providing quarterback Jared Goff with plenty of weapons.