The Detroit Lions are trying to run it back. They’re no longer sleepers, and their success is no longer doubted. They’ve made several moves in free agency that have solidified their intentions – to contend for the North in 2023. However, as was inevitable, they couldn’t bring everyone back. Yesterday, arguably the biggest name on their list of free agents – WR DJ Chark – signed a deal with the Carolina Panthers for one year and five million dollars.
A few readers may be wondering – quite reasonably – why the Lions didn’t re-sign him, especially with a price tag that cheap. For starters, there’s a difference between can’t and won’t. Maybe the Lions were ready to move on, and look for the future of the position from one of a few places. Or maybe Chark and his camp were looking for something fundamentally different in a contract than the Lions were offering. Maybe he was set on a number, he shopped himself around, and eventually had to settle for less once the Lions had made other plans. Maybe the Lions have their eyes set on a prospect. We can play the “maybe” game all day. Unfortunately, the DJ Chark era is in the past.
Now, however, we have to look to the future. Chark played an average of 48 snaps per game – and that’s with missing seven games to injury. Chark occupied a valuable role in Ben Johnson’s offense, serving as the X receiver and downfield threat. That’s a pretty important role, and it needs to be filled. The first place we can look for a replacement is the current in-house talent. Jameson Williams is the obvious name here. The Lions invested a lot of draft capital in trading up for him, and they’re gonna want to get him snaps. This is the most likely option – the front office really likes him. In specific packages, Detroit uses Kalif Raymond as a downfield threat (see: that great play against the Packers on Sunday Night Football). But Williams is the future of the position, with game-breaking speed. Once he gets on the same page as Jared Goff, this could be good.
However, the presence of Williams and Raymond shouldn’t discourage additional investment at the position. The Lions are a little late to get in on the cream of the free agent crop, but there are still a few interesting names out there. Marvin Jones Jr could have a pretty cheap price tag, and he’d fit the culture Campbell and Co are trying to build. Plus, anyone who survived Matt Patricia for that long is a true football guy. If the Lions feel Williams isn’t ready right away, Jones could take over until he is. Julio Jones and Jarvis Landry are also on the market, but those names don’t inspire a ton of confidence. I also don’t think they’d add much to the offense and locker room. Finally, the Lions could get a little funky and trade for a receiver. It’s rumored that Deandre Hopkins is on the market while the Cardinals look more and more like they’re hitting the reset button. He’d be a step up, but a slew of injuries and personal issues could keep him sidelined. None of these options seem likely though.
Holmes and Campbell have placed an insistence on building through the draft, rather than free agency. It’s why they give short term deals so often – either signees play themselves into Detroit’s long-term plans, or serve as a placeholder until they are supplanted by a drafted player, fully developed. So it’s much more likely that the front office will go looking for a Chark replacement among the numerous players in the 2023 Draft. The best among them is undoubtedly TCU WR Quentin Johnston. He will be the highest outside receiver taken in the draft, and he may be in play at pick 18 for the Lions. Other notable names include Michigan receiver Ronnie Bell and Princeton wideout Andre Iosivas. WVU’s Bryce Ford-Wheaton has also seen his stock shoot up after the combine. All could come in and make a difference soon for Detroit. The Lions also don’t have to worry about these players stealing time from Jameson Williams in the future, as the organization will have to move on from Josh Reynolds at some point. One of these guys could operate on the other side of the field from Williams in the near future.
Oddly enough, Chark was THE big free agent signing last offseason. His departure comes during the Lions foray into the 2023 free agent market, handing out several more contracts than last year. Chark leaving demonstrates here how the Lions philosophy has shifted after one season, seemingly moving from making one deal and focusing on in-house pieces to making a run at the North with a varied assortment of the best players available. Neither of these were bad strategies – they just needed to be operated at different times. Without Chark, the Lions offense has a void that can be filled one of a few ways. Time can only tell how dangerous that void can be.
