The Jacksonville Jaguars have done a good job of locking up their homegrown talent and have a young core in place. But that doesn't mean their roster won't undergo a significant makeover in the offseason. They're expected to part ways with several players in the upcoming months. Of the bunch, wide receiver Christian Kirk appears to have the highest chance of leaving. That said, there's a scenario where the Jags choose to keep their offensive mainstay in 2025.
Christian Kirk has been the subject of speculation this offseason because he's entering a contract year and releasing him or trading him would free up $10 million in space. Add the fact that Jacksonville was close to shipping him to the Pittsburgh Steelers before the 2024 deadline, and it's easy to see why he's a trade candidate.
On the other hand, Kirk's faith may not have been sealed yet. There's a new regime in place, and deciding whether to keep him around in 2025 will be at the top of new general manager James Gladstone's to-do list. Here's why it could happen.
Christian Kirk is a proven commodity for the Jaguars
Availability is a player's most important ability. You can be the most talented player in the world but if you cannot get on the football field, it isn't of much use. In Christian Kirk's case, he's suffered season-ending injuries two years in a row but showed in 2022 that he can be an integral piece on offense, hauling in 84 receptions for 1,108 yards with eight touchdowns.
And before the former Texas A&M Aggie suffered a collarbone injury in 2023, he was on pace to log over 1,000 yards. This is to say that his production the year prior wasn't an outlier. Sure, sustaining injuries in back-to-back seasons is a reason for concern, but one was a core and the other a collarbone.
The impact of injuries shouldn't be downplayed, but it would be more worrisome if Kirk had torn his ACL or dislocated his ankle. Speaking of...
Christian Kirk may be a better option than Chris Godwin
With Liam Coen becoming the head coach, Chis Godwin has been linked to the Jaguars. It's understandable. The two worked together with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year, and he mostly lines up in the slot, so he would be an ideal receplacement for Kirk.
The downside of signing Godwin in free agency is that he's coming from an ankle injury that cut his 2024 season short. Sure, he's more accomplished, having crossed the 1,000-yard mark four times in his career. That said, he will probably be more expensive, and there haven't been any updates about his recovery, so he may not be able to contribute right away.
The Jaguars can wait to the 2025 NFL Draft to upgrade the WR corps
The bottom line is that the Jaguars are better off going with the devil they know in the slot. Cooper Kupp would be another alternative to Kirk but would also be more expensive and not necessarily healthier.
Circling back to the last point, releasing Christian Kirk for someone who may be a bitter better but not healthier doesn't make sense from a financial standpoint. Jacksonville could keep him for the remainder of his contract, bolster the secondary in free agency — it as $38 million in space currently — and then bolster the wide receiver corps in the draft. Tetairoa McMillan or Travis Hunter would be intriguing options at No. 5.
At least one of them should be available when the Jags are on the clock. All things considered, drafting a receiver would be cheaper than going after Kupp or Godwin in free agency.