The 30 best NFL players set to become free agents in 2023
By Ryan Heckman
30 best NFL free agents in 2023: DJ Chark, WR
Back in 2018, DJ Chark was just a rookie coming out of LSU and he was highly criticized. He was known as purely a speed guy, and for that reason wasn’t looked at as a possible number-one wide receiver.
After a slow start as a rookie, though, Chark picked it up and had an admirable second season in Jacksonville. The LSU product caught 73 passes for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns that season — still his best season to date.
Over the course of 2020 and 2021 with Jacksonville, Chark endured some injury issues and missed a total of 16 games between both seasons. This season, too, Chark has missed a handful of games. Injuries have seemed to truly harp on his potential, but Chark is still only 26 years old though.
He’s had some brilliant flashes this year with Detroit, and if you are a fantasy football player, you know he’s been able to win you some weeks when he’s been “the guy.” But, will he stick in Detroit? That’s a tough question.
The Lions have Jameson Williams as their future cornerstone wideout, plus Amon-Ra St. Brown as that trusty, sure-fire security blanket. Chark could offer another team a solid WR2, and even though injuries have plagued him, he’ll likely get some decent attention in the spring.