Veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk is coming off two straight disappointing seasons, but perhaps a change of scenery will get him going.
According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero on Thursday, the Jacksonville Jaguars are trading Kirk to AFC South rival Houston Texans for a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Pelissero noted the Texans will pay Kirk $16.5 million this season, which is the final year of his deal.
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Feb. 25, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans hinted that the team would look to strengthen the position to help quarterback C.J. Stroud.
"It hurt us down the stretch, not having Stef (Stefon Diggs), not having Tank (Dell)," Ryans told reporters, as shared by ESPN. "You need those playmakers, especially at the wide receiver position. It enhances your ability to move the football down the field and score points."
Diggs and Robert Woods are entering free agency, and Dell is likely to miss the 2025 season because of a knee injury, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Injuries slowed Kirk in Jacksonville over the past two seasons when he missed a combined 14 games (core muscle and broken collarbone). However, the Texans can see Kirk's potential. In Kirk's first season with the Jaguars, he had 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns with QB Trevor Lawrence throwing to him.
The Texans hope they can get a healthy Kirk to help Stroud. The Texans will likely add more wide receivers via free agency or the draft, but for now, they've given Stroud a new threat.
