The Houston Texans could make the surprising decision to cut veteran wide receiver and 2025 offseason trade acquisition Christian Kirk. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox listed Kirk as the Texans’ “best player who could be cut.”
Among the many reasons Knox cites, Kirk is navigating an injury with OTAs starting and training camp still in the distance.
That would not make the decision any less surprising.
“While the Houston Texans traded for wideout Christian Kirk this offseason, there’s no guarantee he’ll make the roster,” Knox wrote on May 20. “The 28-year-old is coming off of a season-ending collarbone injury and entering a contract year.”
Kirk caught 27 passes for 379 yards and 1 touchdown in eight games with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024. He set career highs in 2022 with an 84-1,108-8 line and has three seasons with at least 103 targets and 68 receptions.
A former second-round pick in the 2018 draft (No. 47 overall) by the Arizona Cardinals, the Texans surrendered a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Jaguars to acquire Kirk in March.
Kirk is on an expiring four-year, $72 million contract.
Incoming Draft Class, Finances Could Spell Quick End for Christian Kirk
Further exacerbating matters for Kirk’s prospects of making it to the regular season with the Texans, Houston drafted a pair of wide receivers in the 2025 cycle, with the rare distinction of being from the same school, and both have received plaudits for their skill sets.
Then there is the financial aspect of parting with Kirk.
“The Texans, who drafted Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in Rounds 2 and 3, respectively, could save $2 million by releasing Kirk,” Knox wrote.
ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime expects Higgins and Noel to receive chances to play early and often.
“With former Texans receiver Stefon Diggs joining the New England Patriots and Tank Dell‘s status for the season in question (knee), there will be opportunities for the duo to make noise in the Texans’ wideout room,” Bien-Aime wrote on May 20. “There’s also an opportunity to earn starting minutes.”
Kirk has an extensive injury history, completing a full regular season slate of games twice in his seven-year career.
