The Jacksonville Jaguars stunned the NFL world when they traded Christian Kirk to the Houston Texans. Aside from the fact that the Jags originally planned to release him, the news turned heads because they sent the veteran receiver to a division rival.
In exchange for Kirk, the Jaguars got a seventh-round selection. It may not be much but at least they got something, which wouldn't have happened if they had outright cut him. Add the fact that they freed up $10 million in space, and moving in from the former Texas A&M Aggie made sense.
That said, Jacksonville will now face him twice in 2025, and he'll surely try to prove that it was a mistake letting him go. For that reason, it's hard to tell right now just how good the move was. Having said that, there are immediate winners and losers in the aftermath of the trade. Below are the biggest ones.
Winner: James Gladstone
James Gladstone is starting his stint as the general manager with a bang, quickly moving on from Trent Baalke's mistakes and undoing his work. Sure, he cannot release everyone, but he's getting rid of the players who don't fit his vision. That's gusty, and deserves credit for that, regardless of how things play out.
On top of that, Gladstone has an extra draft pick and $10 million in space to work with. Expect him to use those resources to revamp the roster.
Loser: Trent Baalke
Giving Christian Kirk a four-year deal worth $72 million was one of Trent Baalke's first big moves as the Jaguars general manager. The decision raised eyebrows across the NFL landscape, as the Arizona native had never had 1,000 yards in a season.
Kirk livd up to expectations early on, posting 84 catches for 1,108 yards in his first season in Duval. Had he played like that the past two years, Baalke's decision would've been validated but it wasn't.
There's no doubt Baalke had a few hits during his tenure but also plenty of misses. Paying a premium for Kirk was one of the biggest ones.
Winner: Parker Washington
Parker Washington had a quiet rookie season, but that's not surprising when you take into account that he was a sixth-round pick. As such, not much was expected from him. Then again, that didn't stop him from working on his craft while waiting for a chance to contribute. Once he got it, the former Penn State Nittany Lion made the most of it, registering 32 receptions for 390 yards with three touchdowns. On top of that, he gave the return game a spark.
With Christian Kirk no longer in the mix, Washington will step in his place as the team's primary slot receiver. Don't be surprised if he has a banner season.
Loser: Trevor Lawrence
This could be a case by addition by subtraction: By releasing Christian Kirk, the front office is positioning itself to take a big swing this offseason. Whether it's Tee Higgins or Tetairoa McMillan, Jacksonville needs to upgrade its receiver corps.
Having said that, Kirk was one of Trevor Lawrence's most trusted targets the past three seasons. Given that both of them were close, his absence will weigh heavy. Sure, No. 16 will probably get better weapons, but that doesn't mean he won't miss a close friend.
Winner: Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are getting reluctant praise because Christian Kirk gives them a viable target who can have an impact right off the bat. Of course, how good or bad the trade is lies on whether he can avoid the injury bug.
When he's healthy, Kirk is a pretty good player. The issue is that he's had season-ending injuries each of the past two years. The Texans had better hope he bounces back. Otherwise, they will have gifted the Jags a draft pick for nothing.
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