The Carolina Panthers traded away wide receiver DJ Moore to acquire the No. 1 pick, but they have added yet another replacement to fill the void.
The Carolina Panthers were in need of a quarterback this offseason, and they made the huge move to move up from the No. 9 spot to acquire the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft from the Chicago Bears. That gives them their choice of one of the top four quarterback prospects in the draft. To do so, they not only had to trade away multiple high draft picks over the next couple of years, but also top wide receiver DJ. Moore.
This offseason, the Panthers have brought in multiple players to give support to their rookie starting quarterback, like former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen. While replacing Moore was a difficult job, the Panthers brought in yet another top wide receiver free agent to fill the void.
On Friday, the Panthers signed former Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark to a one-year, $5 million contract. NFL Network national insider Ian Rapoport was first to report that Chark was signing a one-year deal with Carolina.
Panthers continue to fill void left by DJ Moore by signing DJ Chark
Chark is quite the get for Carolina, as he is a former Pro Bowler. Beginning his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he made a name for himself in the 2019 season when he caught 73 passes for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns on 118 targets.
After a 2020 season in which he recorded 53 receptions for 706 yards and five touchdowns, Chark was limited to just four games in the 2021 season due to a fractured ankle.
Chark signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Lions, and played in 11 games due to an ankle sprain. But when he was healthy, he caught 30-of-52 targets for 502 yards and three touchdowns.
While yes, Chark has been plagued by injuries over the past couple of years, his potential when healthy is an obvious plus for the Panthers. He slots in as one of the top two wide receivers on the team alongside Thielen. Not only that, but the team also added former tight end Hayden Hurst as a downfield option for Carolina’s new quarterback.
The Panthers have reshaped their offense under new head coach Frank Reich. Now, the NFL world waits to see who the team selects to be their quarterback of the future on Apr. 27, the opening night of the draft.