Jaguars trade Christian Kirk to Texans for 2026 NFL Draft pick: reports

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The Jacksonville Jaguars have reportedly made a trade with the Houston Texans, sending veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk to their AFC South rival. 

Houston gets a 2026 seventh-round pick, which originally belonged to the Los Angeles Rams, in exchange for Kirk, according to The Athletic. 

The trade comes one day after news broke that the Jaguars planned to release Kirk, who missed the final nine games of the 2024 season due to a broken collarbone. 

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Christian Kirk (13) of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrates a reception during the second quarter of a game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium Nov. 26, 2023, in Houston. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

That move would have saved Jacksonville $10.437 million against their salary cap, according to Over The Cap. The trade does the same thing while adding a draft pick. 

Kirk was going to have the team’s highest cap hit this season at $24.1 million while being paid a $15.5 million salary, per Over The Cap. But new general manager James Gladstone, who joined the new Jags regime Feb. 21 to be paired with head coach Liam Coen, is clearly showing he’s not afraid to make moves already, even with a divisional rival. 

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Kirk quickly developed a rapport with quarterback Trevor Lawrence after being signed to a four-year, $72 million deal in 2022, registering career highs in catches (84), yards (1,108) and touchdowns (eight) in that campaign. 

However, an abdominal injury cost him five games in 2023, and his collarbone fracture limited him to eight games in the third year of his