The Jacksonville Jaguars have traded wide receiver Christian Kirk to the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick, according to ESPN. The trade came after sources revealed that the Jaguars planned to release Kirk at the start of the new league year next Wednesday.
Initially, it was believed that Kirk’s departure was imminent due to the team’s decision to let him go. However, the Jaguars have found an alternative solution by trading him to a divisional rival within their own ranks.
Kirk will now join a Texans team in need of a receiving upgrade, particularly after suffering serious knee injuries to Nico Collins and Tank Dell during the regular season. Head coach DeMeco Ryans had previously stated that adding a receiver was an area of emphasis for the team, citing the importance of playmakers at this position.
With Kirk’s departure, the Jaguars will be losing their top receiver in 2025, with a scheduled cap hit of $24.4 million. Despite signing a lucrative four-year deal in 2022, Kirk has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, including abdominal issues and a broken collarbone.
Kirk had previously spent four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, where he accumulated impressive numbers of catches and receiving yards before being traded to the Jaguars.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44140454/jaguars-trading-wr-christian-kirk-texans-source-says