Cardinals Insider Believes $72 Million Receiver is Exactly What Team Needs After His Release

An Arizona Cardinals insider believes a $72 million wide receiver who was just released could be exactly what the team’s offense needs this offseason.

A former Arizona Cardinals starter has entered the free agent conversation after it was revealed his team plans to release him in a cap-saving move.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Jacksonville Jaguars are planning to release wide receiver Christian Kirk three years after they signed him to a $72 million contract.

That release could be good news for his old team as one Cardinals insider sees Kirk as a fit for the current wide receiver room.

After Kirk was released, PHNX_Cardinals’ Johnny Venerable said that Kirk is exactly what the Cardinals need to complement Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson.

Kirk spent the first four years of his career with the Cardinals after they selected him with the 47th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Over those four years he made 236 catches for 2902 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Then the Jaguars made the surprising decision to give him a contract worth $18 million per year and lured him way from Arizona.

The decision worked out pretty well in his first year with the team as he set career highs with 84 catches for 1108 yards and eight TDs.

Unfortunately injuries have been an issue since then.

He missed five games in 2023, but was still able to make 57 catches for 787 yards in the 12 games he played.

This past year, Kirk only played in eight games and was held to 27 catches for 379 yards in those games.

The 14 games he has missed over the last two years and his decrease in efficiency during the 2024 season could help bring down his cost and make him a more realistic option for the Cardinals this offseason.

He could give the Cardinals a threat on shorter throws that they don’t currently have in their wide receiver room.