DJ Chark Signs with the Panthers
The #Panthers aren’t done adding on offense, agreeing to terms with WR DJ Chark on a 1-year deal, sources say. A complete remake of the Carolina offense is underway, and Chark will be a big part. As will their new rookie QB. pic.twitter.com/MUJkUI2PyF
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 24, 2023
The veteran wide receiver was a free agent, but the Carolina Panthers announced on Friday that they had agreed with him on the conditions of a deal. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the contract is for one year only.
The signing of DJ Chark comes on the heels of the Panthers trading wide receiver D.J. Moore, who was slated to be the ninth overall choice in the 2023 NFL draft, along with several other draft picks to the Chicago Bears to move up to the first overall position in the draft.
According to a report by Joseph Person of The Athletic from earlier this month, C.J. Stroud, the quarterback for Ohio State, is believed to be the Panthers’ preferred target. This goes along with the widespread assumption that Carolina will use the first overall pick to select its quarterback of the present and future.
Chark was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars during his first four NFL seasons before signing with the Detroit Lions during the offseason of the previous year. It was a difficult year for him, as he struggled with ankle troubles that caused him to miss six games. In the end, he hauled in 30 passes for a total of 502 yards and three touchdowns.
The 26-year-old player appeared ecstatic about his move from the Jaguars to the Lions at the start of the previous season.
“I want to be in the company of decent people. They are decent human beings, “he said reporters after signing in Detroit. “Being desired is a pleasant experience, and at the end of the day, I want more than anything else to be in a situation I want. Congratulations to everyone in Jacksonville. My time spent there, as well as everyone I’ve met and come across while I was there, I want the best for them. But, Jacksonville is no longer the focus of this discussion. It relates to the city of Detroit.”
During his sophomore season with the Jaguars in 2019, Chark had 73 receptions for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns, demonstrating significant potential for future success. Chark, though, has not been able to replicate the effect he had back then and has never reached any of those statistical highs.
The Panthers do not have a strong receiving corps, despite the fact that they recently signed another veteran wideout in the form of Adam Thielen. This is among the many other questions the Panthers have on offense, which is why it made sense for them to take a chance on the product of LSU and hope that he can live up to his potential.
