![Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) rushes for yards against Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney (29) and safety Javon Bullard (20) during the third quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Packers edged the Jaguars 30-27 on a last-second field goal. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_6000,h_3375/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/55/01jnpnpjhy70s2wmzq13.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) rushes for yards against Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney (29) and safety Javon Bullard (20) during the third quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Packers edged the Jaguars 30-27 on a last-second field goal. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
The downside of making moves before free agency is that none of them become official until the new league's year starts. This is a long-winded way to say that a deal isn't truly done until free agency begins. The Jacksonville Jaguars are proof of it.
Just recently the news broke that the Jags were planning to release Kirk, but things have changed. The Houston Texans didn't want to get caught in a bidding war for the veteran receiver and decided to trade for him.
Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports that Jacksonville is trading Kirk to the Texans. Other outlets also confirmed the news.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Media later shared details of the trade. In exchange for Kirk, the Jags will be getting a seventh-round pick.
It's a 2026 7th-round pick going to Jacksonville for Christian Kirk. The #Texans take on Christian Kirk's existing contract, which is set to pay him $16.5 million in 2025, the final year on the deal. https://t.co/NU4MqShdY1
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 6, 2025
While inter-division trades are rare, they happen from time to time. Moreover, the Texans have shown an affinity for signing players who've previously suited up for the Jags, including but not limited to defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi, quarterback E.J. Perry, and cornerback Shaquill Griffin. In fact, Black & Teal saw Houston as a potential landing spot for Kirk when his release became official.
Related news: Updated cap space and draft picks for the Jaguars in 2025
Why are the Texans made a deal with the Jaguars for Christian Kirk?
The Houston Texans needed help at receiver, with Stefon Diggs and Robert Woods slated to become free agents. Like their divisional foes, they've made it a priority to help their quarterback C.J. Stroud as much as they can.
The Texans may still need to add another wideout in free agency or the draft, but Kirk should be able to help them immediately. While he suffered season-ending injuries in back-to-back years, he was one of Trevor Lawrence's most trusted targets and an integral piece of the Jacksonville passing game.
In his best season wearing Black & Teal, Kirk hauled in 84 receptions for 1,108 yards with eight touchdowns. He may not reach that kind of production in 2025, but should step in and help the Texans right away. The fact that he'll get to face the Jags twice next season could incentivize him to have a banner year and prove they made a mistake when they traded him to a division rival.
From the Jaguars' side of things, they're better off trading Kirk than releasing him and getting nothing in return. Sure, a seventh-round pick may not be worth much but it's better than one. Add the fact that they'll still free up $10 million in space, and the move looks like a win.
Then again, we won't find out who truly won the trade untili the Jaguars face Houston in 2025. Thanks to Christian Kirk, their matchups just became way more interesting.