3 ‘big-name’ offensive free agents the Cleveland Browns should consider
By Greg Newland
Cleveland Browns Offensive Free Agent Target No. 1: DJ Chark, WR
With Donovan Peoples-Jones having a really solid year in 2022, I’m not sold that the Cleveland Browns are in desperate need of a third wide receiver. I would love to give a guy like David Bell or Michael Woods more time to develop, but I don’t think the Browns are in a situation where they can wait.
With time being of the essence, I expect Berry to find his No. 3 wide receiver in free agency this year. Unfortunately, the wide receiver class is pretty weak in free agency, so you may see costs skyrocket with a supply/demand imbalance.
You won’t see Berry go crazy and overspend, but if he can get a guy like DJ Chark at a reasonable value, I think he would be the perfect fit. Chark will only be 26 years old to begin the 2023 season, and with one breakout year in 2019, he has proven he can be a No. 3 (or even two) wide receiver in the league.
Over his five-year career, Chark has just over 2,500 yards receiving and 18 touchdowns, but 1,000 yards and eight of those touchdowns came in 2019 when he was a pro bowler for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Chark has good size but excels in the slot position where he has room to run and get open. Not only would he be a red zone target, but he would also be a deep threat and an elite route runner on third and short.
Every offseason we see these receivers get $10 million a year and then go have 35 catches and 500 yards. I think the potential for Chark in Cleveland would be fantastic, but my biggest fear is someone will overpay and Berry will fall back to fixing the problem in the draft.
