Ex-Lions WR DJ Chark may need to wait a bit longer before signing with another team after Gabe Davis surprisingly became available on Wednesday.
Former Detroit Lions receiver DJ Chark remains a free agent while teams are holding rookie minicamps and getting ready for OTAs later this month. Chark had a tough 2024 season, playing in only seven games for the Los Angeles Chargers.
The seasoned wideout dealt with injuries that impacted his play. He managed just four catches (on 10 targets) for 31 yards and a single touchdown.
When healthy, Chark is a deep threat, proven by his career average of 14.4 yards per catch. But with players like Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen, Tyler Boyd, and now Gabe Davis still unsigned, the former Lions WR could face a tougher road.
On Wednesday, the Jaguars surprisingly released Davis after just one season. He had signed a three-year, $39 million deal last offseason but didn’t live up to expectations.
Davis played only 10 games in 2024 because of a torn meniscus, which forced him to miss the remainder of the year. He had 20 catches (on 42 targets) for 239 yards and two scores.
Even with a down year, Davis, nearly three years younger than Chark, likely has a stronger chance to join a WR-hungry team. Davis also poses more of a deep threat, with a career average of 16.2 yards per catch.
Before 2024, Davis averaged 683 receiving yards and seven touchdowns per season. In comparison, Chark has averaged just 443 yards and three touchdowns annually over seven years.
Chark burst onto the NFL scene with the Jaguars, catching 73 passes (on 118 targets) for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns in his second season.
Since then, the former second-rounder has struggled to match that level but had decent campaigns with the Lions in 2022 (30 catches for 502 yards, three TDs) and Panthers in 2023 (35 for 525, five TDs).
The ex-Lions pass catcher still brings value when healthy. He just needs the right fit and a team in need of speed. But Davis’ unexpected availability could delay Chark’s next opportunity.
