Christian

Kirk

The report affirms Kirk’s position in the target pecking order, placing him ahead of Higgins and Noel, who were drafted in the second and third rounds, respectively, just two weeks ago. Kirk is scheduled to hit free agency in 2026, and while Higgins and Noel currently profile as the potential long-term Nos. 2 and 3 wide receivers, Texans coaches will not simply gift those roles to the intriguing Iowa State alums. Kirk’s status as a 2025 PPR scam option remains intact at this time. Higgins likely has the easier path to year one fantasy relevance than Noel, with Higgins profiling as a perimeter option for when Kirk kicks inside to the slot in three-wide receiver sets.

The deal nets Noel $6.46 million. The former Iowa State player averaged a career-best 2.62 yards per route run operating as a vertical slot receiver in 2024. In order for Noel to find re-draft relevance in year one, he will have to out-play trade acquisition, WR Christian Kirk, whose contract is voided beyond 2025. If Noel were to break out as a rookie, he would likely do so in the second half of the season, though it is worth monitoring his progress this summer.

The Texans’ wide receiver group is murky beyond star No. 1 wide receiver Nico Collins. Stefon Diggs departed via free agency, and Tank Dell’s expected return date remains unknown following his 2024 knee dislocation and multi-ligament tear. The team initially addressed the effective losses of their Nos. 2 and 3 wide receivers by trading for former Jaguars slot receiver Christian Kirk and signing both Justin Watson and Braxton Berrios, who is recovering from an ACL tear of his own. Kirk is currently penciled in as the second-most fantasy-relevant player in the group, but the Texans’ reported intent to draft multiple wide receivers this year could reduce Kirk’s fantasy potential. While Collins remains a safe bet to return WR1 value, Kirk’s weekly WR4/flex performances could become slightly more volatile due to increased target competition.

A week after acquiring Kirk from the Jaguars in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick, the Texans have converted $14 million of his $15.5 million base salary into a signing bonus to clear $12 million in cap for this upcoming season. With Tank Dell (knee) likely to miss most or all of the 2025 season, Kirk will be tasked with playing a significant role in Houston’s passing game. Playing opposite Nico Collins, Kirk’s fantasy ceiling will be limited, but he should provide a decent floor as a PPR scam if Houston doesn’t add any other receivers of note.

A day after learning he would be released, Kirk now has a new home in Houston. The wide receiver-needy Texans gave up virtually nothing to acquire the veteran slot receiver. Kirk is on the final year of a four-year, $72 million deal he signed in 2022, and will slot in as Houston’s No. 2 receiver behind Nico Collins. Kirk’s last two seasons have been plagued with injuries, as he has played just 20 games and ended each year on injured reserve. Kirk has played over 75 percent of his snaps from the slot since 2021 and will likely play a similar role for the Texans next season. While he should make for a solid addition, the Texans would still benefit from adding another outside receiver this offseason.

The widely-expected move saves the Jaguars $10.4 million against the salary cap in 2025. Kirk missed much of the 2024 regular season after sustaining a broken collarbone in October, finishing the year with 27 catches for 379 yards and one touchdown on 47 targets. Kirk, 28, had a career year with the Jags in 2022, catching 84 passes for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s struggled since then, and in 2024 was quickly usurped by Brian Thomas as the team’s No. 1 wideout. Kirk should have several suitors in free agency, though he would seem destined for a short-term, incentive-laden deal.

Kirk has one year remaining on his current deal and is scheduled to make $16.5 million in 2025. He missed much of the 2024 regular season after sustaining a broken collarbone in October, finishing the year with 27 catches for 379 yards and one touchdown on 47 targets. With Brian Thomas emerging as a dominant WR1 and Gabe Davis positioned as a downfield threat, along with a new regime in Jacksonville, could spell the end of Kirk’s run as a Jaguar, Graziano said. He added that Kirk’s contract “is reasonable enough that the Jaguars might be able to get something for him in a trade if he’s healthy.” Kirk, 28, would draw interest from wideout-needy teams if the Jags part ways with him in the coming weeks.

Schefter’s latest report reveals Kirk is now out for the season. It is a brutal end to a disappointing season. Kirk finishes with 27 receptions, 379 yards and one touchdown on 47 targets. His 1.72 yards per route run average ties for the fourth-lowest of his seven-year career. While Kirk’s contract includes some dead money in the 2026 and 2027 voided seasons, the Jaguars can save $10.7 million against the 2025 cap if they release him before June 1st, 2025. They would notably take on roughly $13.65 million in dead money in 2025 as well but the double-digit savings could be enough to cut the soon-to-be 28-year-old player.

Kirk landed about as hard as possible on his shoulder on a fourth quarter deep attempt and was seen grabbing at his arm before the play was even dead. Not good. He skipped the injury tent and headed straight for the locker room. He was ruled out a few moments later. Looks can be deceiving, but this had all the appearances of a multi-month injury. Kirk’s injury came the same day Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) and Gabe Davis (shoulder) also got banged up. He had just two catches for 59 yards before going down. The Jags visit the Eagles in Week 9.

Schefter also mentioned Diontae Johnson as a receiver who could be on the move, and that is feeling closer to a given with every Panthers loss. Kirk has flown under the radar as a potential trade target for receiver-needy teams, but the move makes sense for all involved. The veteran receiver is averaging 3.6 catches for 46 yards per game this year. Those numbers were at 4.8 catches and 66 yards last year. The emergence of Brian Thomas Jr. has pushed Kirk down the target totem pole in Jacksonville, making him expendable for the offense. Kirk would land on a contending team with targets to spare, making most landing spots upgrades for his fantasy outlook.