Former Panthers wide receiver DJ Chark visits LA Chargers ahead of 2024 NFL Draft

Former Carolina Panthers wide receiver D.J. Chark is still searching for his next home this week, taking a visit to see the L.A. Chargers ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. Chark visited the Chargers on Thursday, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The team is likely to draft a wide receiver next week with one of their nine picks, but Jim Harbaugh’s first-year squad could use an experienced wideout like the former Jaguars draft pick.

Chark spent the 2023 season with the Panthers, totaling 35 catches, 525 yards and five touchdowns in 15 regular season games. The team went 2-15, ultimately deciding to part ways with head coach Frank Reich in favor of former Buccaneers coordinator Dave Canales.

The Panthers signed Chark last offseason after the wideout had spent a year with the Detroit Lions. He signed on a one-year deal for $5 million. He landed that contract after a one-year, $10 million deal with Detroit. He was originally drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars out of LSU in 2018. He inked his rookie deal for $4.44 million after they took him in the second round at No. 61 overall.

Injuries have been a big obstacle for Chark in his career, as the wideout has yet to play in a full slate of games in a season. After playing in four games during an injury-plagued 2021, Chark played in 11 contests for the Lions in 2022, starting 10.

He has shown the ability to be a real threat in the passing game when healthy, though. In his second season as a pro in 2019, Chark played a career-high 15 games and hauled in 73 passes for 1008 yards and eight touchdowns. He earned a Pro Bowl nod for his 2019 campaign.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year began at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially ran out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will had a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams could enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline follows the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.