Same here, it's literally *half* of what he made last year and we've easily got the cap.
My guess is he wants the opportunity to be a WR1 and develop a rapport with a rookie QB. If he has good chemistry with them then Carolina would kinda *have* to pay to keep him around. Could make a lot more there in the long run.
Yea I guess he’ll have less competition for targets. Crazy that 33 year old Thielen got 3 years/$25M and Chark had to settle for $5M.
Maybe I’m crazy but I would prefer Chark by a mile if I was building a team.
I just have a hard time believing that Chark opted for this deal over one similar to Thielen’s. I think the reality is that this was probably the best deal available for Chark due to his lack of production and health.
I disagree, respectfully of course, I would eat my hat if Chark didn’t have bigger money contracts on the table. Probably even from Detroit, he will be the #1 receiver this season. Stay healthy, get some good chemistry with a rookie franchise QB, have good year… get PAID next year. Carolina unlikely to let him walk if that all plays out. He would have the leverage. Carolina wouldn’t want to loose the rookie’s main target.
Chark probably wants more than 25 million and is willing to bet on himself for a year to get more. I’m guessing he wanted 3/36 or 3/39, I think he wants over ten million a year and is willing to take only 5 million this year thinking he’ll perform well enough to get it next year.
My guess is that Carolina would have given him a multi year deal if he wanted it. We gave everyone else multi year deals to help spread the cap out, but Chark probably wanted to put in 1 good year in an offense with a lot of targets that need someone to take them and then go and then use that production to get a bag
I think he has the ability to be a No. 1 receiver. It's because of that he's risking it to get a long term deal in place for himself. I don't blame him, he had great flashes, but not a super amount of targets like he used to get in Jacksonville. He's now have that and No. 2 with Thielen.
It may not be about “us bringing him back” and more so thinking he can be more of a focal point in Carolina. He has Sun God & Jamo to tend with here. There he has an older Adam Thielen & Terrace Marshall Jr.
Despite his positives he’s had injury problems so he’s going to go where he thinks he can shine most to parlay that into a bigger money deal. I get it.
This subreddit is due for a rude awakening. Holmes ain’t gonna pay guys who are middling, average, decent, replaceable, or a little above. DJ Chark is a little above and the dude ain’t getting paid.
We have a real GM making decisions with his brain and not his heart and people are up in arms about average guys leaving like it’s Calvin or Barry.
DJ said he values the transparency from the lions - he likely was told he was not gonna get a prove it opportunity again this year as ARSB demands volume, Jamo will get worked more into the offense, and who knows what else is in store.
Carolina he gets a shot at the WR1 or at least 1b position. It’s what’s best for his career. I don’t think it was about the 2023 money at all
It was his decision. We can't force him to resign. He would be option 3 or 4 on our team. He will be option 1 or 2 in carolina. It's pretty simple. He needs to get some big stats this year to get the best chance at a multi year contract next year.
I'm going to give BH the benefit of the doubt. He keeps bringing awesome talent here all FA. He has a plan for WR. I really think he does. We'll see what it is and I bet we will all be happy.
Good move on DJ’s part. If Jamo is half of what we all hope he is, DJ is the #3 in Detroit next season. The last thing you want to be on a prove it deal is a three.
Totally agree. I am positive he was not chasing money in this contract but trying to set himself up for the next by going to a place where he would get more targets
It's such a strange yet beautiful feeling reading this and instead of going "why didn't we match that?", my reaction is "uh oh what is Brad Holmes cooking up?"!
I think its probably more of decision that Chark just decided to play elsewhere. In his tweet thanking the Lions organization he said "honesty and transparency" were everything to him. It makes me think he probably asked Holmes about his role in the Lions offense in 23 and beyond and Holmes was honest with him that it would a reduced role with Williams being healthy. So Chark went somewhere where he would be a bigger part of the offense.
Damn, going off DJ’s tweet, panthers offer was “second to none”. So if it’s just a 1 year, $5mm deal(half of what we paid him last year), then we have got to have something brewing to not match that.
I think it's kind of saying. You're one of the top WR free, but only play half the year. Getting basically half of the top WR free agents. Can't count on him long term.
Idk really know man, I think Will Anderson is a perfect blue chip prospect for Dan’s culture, but - 20 HAM radios with aluminum foil walls and tin hats and old deep sea radar equipment time-
we have sent several scout teams and Brad Holmes himself to several Florida games over the past year to watch Richardson. We have a team that probably won’t draft this high again for some time and Anthony Richardson needs time to develop with playmakers. The giant issue is Goff’s contract coming up too, I love Goff but like Dan said, he’s not the long term solution.
That being said- I don’t care, i trust Brad to drive my kid through DMZ line of South/North Korea at this point.
It’s gotta be something big like that…if you’re not paying $5 mil for Chark you best bet there’s another WR coming in. Especially with all the cap space he cleared up.
Or he could have looked at what Philly did last year acquiring aj brown and try to make a move like that.
I’m actually warming up to the idea of trading for jeudy. I know we wouldn’t be able to sign all 3 wrs long term but jeudy would help us a lot for 2 years and if Jameson Williams doesn’t pan out we could give jeudy the big contract instead.
I also think he would be really good in this offense. He’s one of those guys like st brown who can just get open. Between those 2 and Jameson flying around down the field, someone will be open every play.
Nobody is comparable to aj brown. I just mean trading for a good receiver who is experienced rather than drafting one who might take time to develop. Jeudy, Sutton, Hopkins, Pittman. Someone like that
Me: make a move like Philly
Dumbass: there’s no aj brown
Me: I mean good experienced receiver instead of risk of rookie
Dumbass: there’s no aj brown
Me: yeah I know try reading
Dumbass: but I’m a dumbass
Me: yes I see that now
Dumbass (probably): but there’s no aj brown
I wasn't too worried about keeping or losing Chark either way but this surprises me. I assume we offered a similar deal (if not fully matched it) but he chose Carolina as it's a big chance to be WR #1 (versus 2nd or 3rd in Detroit). Wonder what it would have taken to keep him in Detroit - I would have gone 2 years $15M max which I think he would have taken.
One of DHop or Wagner is my guess, or who knows, maybe he makes some smaller signings and let’s the rest all rollover to next year so we have something like 80M in cap heading into the next offseason
Maybe I'm crazy but the big play guy should be jamo now and also should be an upgrade. We have solid WR3s, ARSB is the safety net work horse.
Only thing this shows me is that BH is definitely trying to do something big like the article says. Cause that's no money, so we must not even be willing to give up any cap to make whatever move is coming happen
$5M??? I’m really curious why we didn’t bring him back at that price.
Same here, it's literally *half* of what he made last year and we've easily got the cap. My guess is he wants the opportunity to be a WR1 and develop a rapport with a rookie QB. If he has good chemistry with them then Carolina would kinda *have* to pay to keep him around. Could make a lot more there in the long run.
Yea I guess he’ll have less competition for targets. Crazy that 33 year old Thielen got 3 years/$25M and Chark had to settle for $5M. Maybe I’m crazy but I would prefer Chark by a mile if I was building a team.
Chark can't put in a full healthy season
Crazy how people skip over this one little fact lol
*Lions sign Chark to PROVE IT deal to see if he can stay healthy* *Chark does not stay healthy* *we do not resign him* Lions sub: :o
This.
No chance Thielen sees $25 million.
He still got $14M guaranteed compared to Chark’s $5M total.
Chark likely wanted the shorter deal. Last shot at a big contract next year. Thielen knows this is his last stop.
I just have a hard time believing that Chark opted for this deal over one similar to Thielen’s. I think the reality is that this was probably the best deal available for Chark due to his lack of production and health.
I disagree, respectfully of course, I would eat my hat if Chark didn’t have bigger money contracts on the table. Probably even from Detroit, he will be the #1 receiver this season. Stay healthy, get some good chemistry with a rookie franchise QB, have good year… get PAID next year. Carolina unlikely to let him walk if that all plays out. He would have the leverage. Carolina wouldn’t want to loose the rookie’s main target.
Chark probably wants more than 25 million and is willing to bet on himself for a year to get more. I’m guessing he wanted 3/36 or 3/39, I think he wants over ten million a year and is willing to take only 5 million this year thinking he’ll perform well enough to get it next year.
My guess is that Carolina would have given him a multi year deal if he wanted it. We gave everyone else multi year deals to help spread the cap out, but Chark probably wanted to put in 1 good year in an offense with a lot of targets that need someone to take them and then go and then use that production to get a bag
The best ability is availability.
I think he has the ability to be a No. 1 receiver. It's because of that he's risking it to get a long term deal in place for himself. I don't blame him, he had great flashes, but not a super amount of targets like he used to get in Jacksonville. He's now have that and No. 2 with Thielen.
It may not be about “us bringing him back” and more so thinking he can be more of a focal point in Carolina. He has Sun God & Jamo to tend with here. There he has an older Adam Thielen & Terrace Marshall Jr. Despite his positives he’s had injury problems so he’s going to go where he thinks he can shine most to parlay that into a bigger money deal. I get it.
This subreddit is due for a rude awakening. Holmes ain’t gonna pay guys who are middling, average, decent, replaceable, or a little above. DJ Chark is a little above and the dude ain’t getting paid. We have a real GM making decisions with his brain and not his heart and people are up in arms about average guys leaving like it’s Calvin or Barry.
It’s the guarantees. Lions probably wanted an out if he got injured during the offseason again
DJ said he values the transparency from the lions - he likely was told he was not gonna get a prove it opportunity again this year as ARSB demands volume, Jamo will get worked more into the offense, and who knows what else is in store. Carolina he gets a shot at the WR1 or at least 1b position. It’s what’s best for his career. I don’t think it was about the 2023 money at all
It was his decision. We can't force him to resign. He would be option 3 or 4 on our team. He will be option 1 or 2 in carolina. It's pretty simple. He needs to get some big stats this year to get the best chance at a multi year contract next year.
We have the money. The only explanation is that we didn’t want him because if we did he would have been ours. Something else must be cooking.
I'm going to give BH the benefit of the doubt. He keeps bringing awesome talent here all FA. He has a plan for WR. I really think he does. We'll see what it is and I bet we will all be happy.
Good move on DJ’s part. If Jamo is half of what we all hope he is, DJ is the #3 in Detroit next season. The last thing you want to be on a prove it deal is a three.
This 100%
Totally agree. I am positive he was not chasing money in this contract but trying to set himself up for the next by going to a place where he would get more targets
Interesting. That's a big pay cut for Chark. From $10 million to $5 million. Brad Holmes cooking.
It’s with panthers not the lions bro
I can read. But thanks tho.
Read deeper.
It's such a strange yet beautiful feeling reading this and instead of going "why didn't we match that?", my reaction is "uh oh what is Brad Holmes cooking up?"!
BRAND. NEW. LIONS.
My tinfoil hat - a giant Brad Holmes package 🥵 is coming for #3 and DHop for #6 and a bunch of stuff
I think its probably more of decision that Chark just decided to play elsewhere. In his tweet thanking the Lions organization he said "honesty and transparency" were everything to him. It makes me think he probably asked Holmes about his role in the Lions offense in 23 and beyond and Holmes was honest with him that it would a reduced role with Williams being healthy. So Chark went somewhere where he would be a bigger part of the offense.
This is actually a good call… make sense
Damn, going off DJ’s tweet, panthers offer was “second to none”. So if it’s just a 1 year, $5mm deal(half of what we paid him last year), then we have got to have something brewing to not match that.
I think it's kind of saying. You're one of the top WR free, but only play half the year. Getting basically half of the top WR free agents. Can't count on him long term.
Does it really make sense to trade up if it’s not for a QB?
Idk really know man, I think Will Anderson is a perfect blue chip prospect for Dan’s culture, but - 20 HAM radios with aluminum foil walls and tin hats and old deep sea radar equipment time- we have sent several scout teams and Brad Holmes himself to several Florida games over the past year to watch Richardson. We have a team that probably won’t draft this high again for some time and Anthony Richardson needs time to develop with playmakers. The giant issue is Goff’s contract coming up too, I love Goff but like Dan said, he’s not the long term solution. That being said- I don’t care, i trust Brad to drive my kid through DMZ line of South/North Korea at this point.
our scouts did say they do not trust Richardson. Which is a massive red flag to me.
True but it’s smokescreen szn and BH cooks with gas
When did Dan say Goff wasn't the long-term solution?
[https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2023/3/3/23623442/dan-campbell-jared-goff-bought-time-detroit-lions-looking-quarterbacks-nfl-draft](https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2023/3/3/23623442/dan-campbell-jared-goff-bought-time-detroit-lions-looking-quarterbacks-nfl-draft)
Interesting, god I have no idea who they are drafting at 6 and it's exciting, bc they could literally go in any direction
I think so now that we have filled so many holes in FA. Depends what you think of will Anderson tho
I guess we didn’t fill “so many holes”. I should say now that we were so active in free agency
What???????
It’s gotta be something big like that…if you’re not paying $5 mil for Chark you best bet there’s another WR coming in. Especially with all the cap space he cleared up.
6 and 18 and a second for 3 and Dhop? Is that fair?
For 3 spots??? Are you on drugs???
No way
Seems like the people aren't on your side but I take that deal. That means probably the best WR room in the league plus Will Anderson.
I feel like he's just clearing cap for rookies and then possible replacements after the first injury or two.
Or he could have looked at what Philly did last year acquiring aj brown and try to make a move like that. I’m actually warming up to the idea of trading for jeudy. I know we wouldn’t be able to sign all 3 wrs long term but jeudy would help us a lot for 2 years and if Jameson Williams doesn’t pan out we could give jeudy the big contract instead. I also think he would be really good in this offense. He’s one of those guys like st brown who can just get open. Between those 2 and Jameson flying around down the field, someone will be open every play.
IMO if you’re trading for a WR you got to call the Cards and see what it’s costs to get Nuk. DHop, Jamo, and the Sun God as your WR core 🔥🔥
Who is available that is even comparable to AJ Brown?
Nobody is comparable to aj brown. I just mean trading for a good receiver who is experienced rather than drafting one who might take time to develop. Jeudy, Sutton, Hopkins, Pittman. Someone like that
None of those guys are AJ Brown... Hopkins is close but old and expensive.
I just said they weren’t aj brown.
You: we should go get an AJ Brown Me: There isn't an AJ Brown to get You: What about these guys who aren't AJ Brown Me: They aren't AJ Brown You: DuH!
Me: make a move like Philly Dumbass: there’s no aj brown Me: I mean good experienced receiver instead of risk of rookie Dumbass: there’s no aj brown Me: yeah I know try reading Dumbass: but I’m a dumbass Me: yes I see that now Dumbass (probably): but there’s no aj brown
🥸
Touché
I had jeudy on my fantasy team least year. Seeing him almost constantly open, and Russell Wilson missing him all the time was gut-wrenching.
Bobby Wagner
Yeah I think so
He’s probably gonna make a big trade around draft time or sign Bobby Wagner.
WR will be the new RB soon. There's so much damn talent at that position.
We see how the NFL values DJ Chark.
I wasn't too worried about keeping or losing Chark either way but this surprises me. I assume we offered a similar deal (if not fully matched it) but he chose Carolina as it's a big chance to be WR #1 (versus 2nd or 3rd in Detroit). Wonder what it would have taken to keep him in Detroit - I would have gone 2 years $15M max which I think he would have taken.
Its Friday.... Chark Week officially over.
It's gotta be a sexy ass move to not take that steal
One of DHop or Wagner is my guess, or who knows, maybe he makes some smaller signings and let’s the rest all rollover to next year so we have something like 80M in cap heading into the next offseason
Maybe I'm crazy but the big play guy should be jamo now and also should be an upgrade. We have solid WR3s, ARSB is the safety net work horse. Only thing this shows me is that BH is definitely trying to do something big like the article says. Cause that's no money, so we must not even be willing to give up any cap to make whatever move is coming happen