The Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to trade wide receiver Christian Kirk to the Houston Texans in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. This move comes as no surprise, given that the Jaguars had already planned to release Kirk. However, the Texans swooped in and executed the deal before it could take place.
By releasing Kirk, the Jaguars freed up $10.4 million of salary cap space. The new regime led by general manager James Gladstone and coach Liam Coen identified Kirk as a prime target for trimming contracts. Despite an electric first season in 2022, Kirk’s statistics plummeted over the past two seasons due to injuries that cost him 14 games.
The Texans need insurance at the position behind Nico Collins, who is set to face free agency. With Stefon Diggs also rehabbing a major knee injury, the team needs someone reliable as its No. 2 wideout. Kirk can still be a solid option if healthy and can make up to $16.5 million in his final year of contract.
The trade has raised questions about whether the Jaguars made the right move, especially considering that they are chasing the AFC South title. The Texans should still be in the receiver market after this deal, as the pick won’t yield significant returns for at least a couple of seasons.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6181925/2025/03/06/christian-kirk-trade-grade-texans-jaguars