Free agency is in full swing, despite what the NFL wants to tell you with the ‘legal tampering period,’ and the Patriots have been relatively quiet. They do, however, reportedly have interest in wide receiver D.J. Chark.
On first thought, Chark likely isn’t the name Patriots fans are clamoring for at the wide receiver position. He isn’t the top-of-the-market name fellow available free agents Allen Robinson, Jarvis Landry or Juju Smith-Schuster are, but Chark presents an extremely intriguing option for the Patriots if the price is right.
There’s an emphasis on the cost after seeing what the first wave of signees got Monday. Jacksonville is giving Christian Kirk $18-million a year and Zay Jones (up to) $30 million over three years. What will the aforementioned three be looking at money-wise? Thanks a lot Jacksonville.
Chark, who spent the first four seasons of his career with the Jaguars, is coming off a broken foot that limited him to just four games last season. That could help keep his cost on planet Earth. But when healthy, the 25-year-old has proven to be a very productive outside threat in a below-average offense. During his best season in 2019, Chark caught 73 passes for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns mostly from rookie Gardner Minshew, helping him earn Pro Bowl honors. He followed his impressive campaign with a 53-706-5 stat line in 2020.
At 6-foot-4, Chark would give the Patriots the big-bodied receiver they have needed N’Keal Harry to be for the last three years. His speed (he ran a 4.37 at the Combine four years ago) would give the offense a much-needed downfield weapon – what they set out to secure when they signed Nelson Agholor a year ago. Speaking of Agholor, the excessive work the Patriots are reportedly doing on receivers in free agency and the draft can call into question the team’s commitment to running it back after his disappointing first year in the system. If a team is willing to take his close to $15-million cap hit off the books, one would think the Patriots would be seriously interested in doing that.
A big receiver with speed ... might Chark be able to fill two roles in one player for the Patriots? With the money that’s flying around during free agency’s first wave, fans shouldn’t be holding their breath for a guy like Robinson to come to town. Landry, despite being built in a lab for the Patriots offense, might also be out of the team’s price range.
It’s interesting to consider how good Chark could be with steady quarterback play. Mac Jones would immediately become the best quarterback he’s played with in his young NFL career. With limited cap space, New England turning to Chark makes a lot of sense. With a solid foundation on offense, solid quarterback play, and the lack of a deep threat, New England could be an appealing offense for Chark’s next destination.
Matthew Judon appears to think so.