The Jacksonville Jaguars have done a complete reset of the organization. They got rid of head coach Doug Pederson and GM Trent Baalke, deciding to go in a new direction. The new regime has the advantage of Trevor Lawrence being the clear-cut starting quarterback. They now have to fill out the rest of the roster. Part of retooling a roster is figuring out where to save money. Reports indicate the Jaguars intend to release wide receiver Christian Kirk.
Jacksonville Jaguars Set To Release Christian Kirk
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Jacksonville Jaguars are planning to release Christian Kirk, making him a free agent. This isn’t necessarily a shock as many analysts predicted Kirk would be a cap casualty. He is in the final year of his four-year, $72 million deal and is set to make $16.5 million in non-guaranteed money. Cutting him saves the team $10.4 million. Kirk is coming off a broken collarbone which prematurely ended his 2024 season.
On the field, he was productive for the Jacksonville Jaguars. In his three seasons with Jacksonville, he had 168 receptions for 2,274 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Jaguars simply have too many other needs right now. Rookie Brian Thomas Jr. is the clear WR1 in the offense after a historic season, and veteran Gabe Davis is on the roster as well. The 28-year-old should be a hot commodity in the free-agent market, but the Jaguars have to focus elsewhere.
Free Agency Plans
There are three areas of concern for the Jacksonville Jaguars. On offense, their interior line needs some help. Protecting their franchise quarterback is a top priority, especially with Lawrence coming off a major injury. The rest of the needs are on defense. This unit bled points last year and needs a dynamic cornerback to shut down the elite receivers in the NFL.
In addition, the interior defensive line is an area the team could improve. They gave up oodles of rushing yards to opponents because there was no push in the middle. Travon Walker and Arik Armstead have been solid on the outside, but they need some help in the interior. The $10.4 million cap savings will help build a better team overall.
Final Thoughts
The wide receiver market is becoming very interesting. There are many quality players on the market and many teams that need more help at the position. Christian Kirk is another name to add to the list. Where will he end up in 2025?
