ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Jacksonville Jaguars plan to release wide receiver Christian Kirk, whom they signed to a four-year, $72 million contract in 2022.
Jaguars plan to release veteran WR Christian Kirk, per source. pic.twitter.com/h5zYXuUElD
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 5, 2025
Kirk (5-11, 200) posted career highs in his first season with Jacksonville, recording 1,108 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. However, injuries hampered his production over the past two seasons. He finished the 2023 campaign with 787 receiving yards, missing five games due to a core muscle injury. His 2024 season was cut short by a broken collarbone suffered in Week 8.
With the 49ers trading Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders, many expect them to add a veteran receiver this offseason while also targeting youth in the upcoming draft.
Could Kirk be a fit? The free-agent wide receiver market is expected to be competitive, but Kirk's recent injuries may make him more affordable than some bigger-name targets.
Initially drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round (No. 47 overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M, Kirk is coming off an injury-shortened season in which he caught 27 passes for 379 yards and one touchdown.
Kirk, 28, has appeared in 93 games (77 starts) over seven NFL seasons, hauling in 404 receptions for 5,176 yards and 29 touchdowns, per Pro Football Reference. He has also contributed 159 rushing yards on 22 carries and has consistently played at least 70% of his teams' offensive snaps when healthy.
Kirk's 14 yards per reception last season would have ranked third among 49ers players with at least 10 targets, trailing only Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle.
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