Michigan roundup: Wide receiver Chark reportedly target for Lions outside the organization


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While still taking care of retaining players from the 2021 roster, the Detroit Lions appear to have finally jumped into the free-agent market.

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The Lions have agreed to a one-year deal with wide receiver DJ Chark for a guaranteed $10 million. Teams are not allowed to officially announce free-agent signings until 4 pm on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old Chark was a Pro Bowl selection in 2019 for the Jacksonville Jaguars after posting 73 catches for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns.

However, the 6-foot-4, 198-pound receiver, who was a second-round pick by Jacksonville in 2018, has missed 16 games with injuries over the past two seasons and was limited to four games in 2021 due to a fractured ankle.

The Lions officially announced on Tuesday that safety Tracy Walker had agreed to a new three-year deal. A third-round pick by the Lions in 2018, Walker led Detroit with 108 tackles in 2021.

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As well, the club announced center Evan Brown has been signed for the 2022 season. He appeared in 16 games for the Lions in 2021 and made 12 starts.

The Lions are also reportedly bringing back defensive end Charles Harris on a two-year deal for $14.

A former first-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2017, Harris signed a one-year deal with the Lions in 2021 and started 14 games for the team after Romeo Okwara suffered a season-ending injury. He had 10 tackles for a loss, registered 7 1/2 sacks, 16 quarterback hits and two forced fumbles.

tigers sign veterans

The Detroit Tigers signed right-handed pitcher Chase Anderson and catcher Ryan Lavarnway to minor-league contracts on Tuesday with an invite to Spring Training.

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The 34-year-old Anderson has pitched in eight Major League seasons making 190 appearances and 176 starts between Arizona (2014-15), Milwaukee (2016-19), Toronto (2020) and Philadelphia (2021).

Last season, Anderson appeared in 14 games for Philadelphia and made nine starts. He had a 6.75 earned-run average with 20 walks and 35 strikeouts in 48 innings and was released in August.

The 34-year-old Lavarnway has played for eight teams over parts of 10 seasons in the majors and has spent time with Boston (2011-14), Baltimore (2015), Atlanta (2015), Oakland (2017), Pittsburgh (2018) ), Cincinnati (2019), Miami (2020) and Cleveland (2021).

The right-hand hitting Lavarnway has never appeared in more than over 47 Major League games in a season and over 165 career games has a .217 average with nine home runs and 50 runs driven in.

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Lions add picks

The Detroit Lions were awarded three compensatory picks in next month’s NFL Draft on Tuesday.

Compensatory picks are based on players gained and lost the previous season. In 2021, Detroit lost receivers Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones, return man Jamal Agnew, linebacker Jarrad Davis and kicker Matt Prater while adding running back Jamaal Williams and Breshad Perriman, who was eventually let go.

Based on the calculations, Detroit picked up an extra pick at the end of the third round (97th overall), another in the fifth round (177th overall) as well as one in the sixth round (217 overall).

The Lions now have eight picks in the seven-round draft with three picks in the top 34 selections and five in the top 100.

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