D.J. Chark has reportedly agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with the Detroit Lions. At least he’s not staying in Jacksonville.
After a mixed collegiate resume turned into an unproductive rookie year, Chark blew up in 2019, posting 226 points in 15 games. His 4.34 forty and 40-inch vertical were both on full display with a line that included 1,008 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on more than 1,300 air yards.
Unfortunately, Chark wasn’t able to maintain the pace in a catastrophically bad Jacksonville offense. He was targeted even further down the field in 2020 – his aDOT rose to 13.8 – but his target volume slipped and his air conversion plummeted to only 54%. He also struggled to stay healthy, missing three games. Urban Meyer famously wanted him to get stronger and more physical. Chark responded to his new coach’s challenge but was wildly inefficient before breaking his ankle in Week 4.
Can Chark rebound now that he’s escaped the Jacksonville quagmire? To answer these questions, Blair Andrews and Shawn Siegele look at his fit in a low-wattage Detroit offense. Will the Lions be able to fit Chark into a passing attack that unlocked Amon-Ra St. Brown at the end of last season?
