PHOENIX — Knowing the Panthers will be investing heavily in their next quarterback, they took deliberate steps to surround him with playmakers.
And head coach Frank Reich made it clear Tuesday morning that their most recent addition could be among the most significant.
Reich said Friday's addition of free agent wideout DJ Chark would give the next quarterback the kind of downfield threat they needed, completing a move he's has been thinking about since before he coached the Panthers.
"Make no mistake; I really wanted DJ — a lot of us did. I've had my eye on him for a couple of years now," Reich said at the league meetings. "I think DJ is a down-the-field threat. I think he's a very competitive, hard-working player, from all the intel that we've gathered. And if you look at his career, even though there have been some injuries along the way, he's consistently producing over 14 yards per catch. That's not a mistake. You might do that for one year, but to do that year in and year out . . .
"And you need that in your offense, right? Anybody you guys know, as well as it, you need those chunk plays. And he's been a proven chunk-play guy."
Chark's career average of 14.4 yards per catch holds up well over time; the question has always been whether he does.
He's missed 19 games the last two years because of injuries and has never played a full season. The closest he came was 15 games for Jacksonville in 2019, and he had 73 catches for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns. But a broken left ankle in 2021 was among a list of issues that have limited him to 54 games in five seasons (of a possible 82).
Reich said Chark had surgery to correct a foot/ankle problem and that the hope is that he'll be on the field for part of OTAs, which is a more optimistic report than he initially got. They also hope that the recent surgery gets him back to his old form since it's something they clearly value.
"And we're very optimistic that the procedure that he had done is going to end up to be a good story that is going to clean up the issue that he's been fighting for a couple of years and really give him the best chance to stay on the field," Reich said.
Chark was part of an aggressive early run in free agency, which also saw the Panthers retain center Bradley Bozeman, then stack skill-position talent including running back Miles Sanders, veteran wideout Adam Thielen, and tight end Hayden Hurst.
But getting more out of Chark, and adding to his speed-guy resume, is something Reich thinks veteran receivers coach Shawn Jefferson (13 years in the league as a player, 17 as a coach) can unlock some things.
"DJ's your big-play receiver," Reich said. "Also, I talked to DJ about this; we're going to expand his role. We want to develop him into a complete receiver, and widen his route tree. It's not just going to be all the vertical stuff down the field.
"We feel like we got one of the best wide receiver coaches in the business in Shawn Jefferson, and Shawn will do a great job working with those guys."
DJ Chark began his career in Jacksonville where he played from 2018-21 before going to Detroit in 2022.
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark celebrates his 22-yard touchdown reception against the Philadelphia Eagles in the second half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) receives congratulations from quarterback Jared Goff (16) after he makes a reception for a touchdown in the second half against Philadelphia Eagles during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) catches a 1-yard pass for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions' DJ Chark catches a touchdown pass in front of Minnesota Vikings' Cameron Dantzler Sr. during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) celebrate as Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) watches after Chark caught a pass for a first down late in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) runs during an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Detroit Lions on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) walks off the field after defeating the New York Jets during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) runs a route against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) walks off the field after defeating the New York Jets during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark celebrates after a catch during the first half of an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Detroit Lions on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark watches against the Atlanta Falcons during a preseason NFL football game in Detroit, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions' DJ Chark dives into the end zone for a touchdown reception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) makes a reception for a touchdown in the first half against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) catches a touchdown pass as Minnesota Vikings cornerback Cameron Dantzler Sr. (3) defends during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark, left, looks for a way around New Orleans Saints defensive back Kurt Coleman (29) after a reception during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark, right, runs past Arizona Cardinals defensive back Jalen Thompson (34) after making a reception during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. (17) runs after catching a pass in front of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Robert Spillane (41) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark, right, runs past Arizona Cardinals defensive back Jalen Thompson (34) after making a reception during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. (17) runs a pass route during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver DJ Chark Jr., left, catches a pass for a touchdown as Jacksonville Jaguars safety Daniel Thomas (20) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. (17) catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Chicago Bears cornerback Kindle Vildor (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars' DJ Chark Jr. reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. (17) before an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) makes a catch as he is defended by Tennessee Titans cornerback Johnathan Joseph (33) and cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Jacksonville Jaguars' D.J. Chark catches a pass with Green Bay Packers' Ka'dar Hollman defending during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) makes a catch for a touchdown against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback William Jackson (22) during an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. Cincinnati won 33-25. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) runs after catching a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) runs for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) catches a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) runs a route against the Tennessee Titans during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) celebrates his touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark, right, catches a pass in front of Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Kendall Fuller for a 35-yard touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) runs against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) tries to get away from Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Steven Nelson (20) and defensive back Jordan Lucas (24) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
