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Christian Kirk #13 of the Houston Texans stiff arms Foye Oluokun #23 of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Houston Texans tried several different solutions to help quarterback C.J. Stroud this past season. That includes the Texans’ trade for veteran Christian Kirk, formerly of their AFC rivals, the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Heading into the offseason, Kirk faces an uncertain future.
That does not mean there are not options on the table, though, and a return to the Texans should arguably be one of them.
Texans’ Christian Kirk Lands on Offseason Watchlist
GettyChristian Kirk #13 of the Houston Texans reacts against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Kirk, who turns 30 in November, logged 28 receptions for 239 yards and 1 touchdown in 13 games (three starts) for the Texans during the 2025 regular season. The yards set a new career low for the former second-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals.
However, Kirk had a resurgence during the postseason.
He now heads to free agency, and CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles listed Kirk among his potential “hidden gems” in the cycle, despite his age and extensive injury history.
“After a quiet regular season, Christian Kirk had 10 catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns in two postseason games, showing he still provides some downfield juice from the slot, a valuable commodity especially for his likely price point,” Pereles wrote on February 20. “He was a 1,108-yard receiver in 2022, and he had 787 yards in just 12 games in 2023. A team in search of a slot receiver with some giddy up could do much worse, especially on what will likely be a short, cheap deal.”
The Texans sent a seventh-round pick to the Jaguars in the trade for Kirk, which is a modest sunk cost even for a one-and-done situation. However, Kirk’s postseason play could suggest that he can still be the player the Texans envisioned when they traded for him.
Christian Kirk Could Still Make Sense for Houston
GettyChristian Kirk #13 of the Houston Texans celebrates a touchdown against the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.
A potentially suppressed price tag could mean it makes even more sense for the Texans to take another flier on Kirk, at least until they establish a clearly superior option on the roster.
Kirk is coming off a four-year, $72 million contract, with over $80 million in career earnings.
Spotrac projected Kirk’s market value at up to $5.4 million annually, and offered a one-year pact as an example of what he could expect to receive in free agency. That could be a palatable number for the Texans.
Per Over The Cap, the Texans re $4.9 million over the limit as of February 22, meaning they must clear space before they can add to their roster.
Texans WR Room in Focus
GettyXavier Hutchinson #19 of the Houston Texans celebrates after a receiving touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Texans double-dipped at wide receiver in the 2025 draft, adding Jayden Higgins to their roster in the second round and Iowa State teammate Jaylin Noel in the third. The latter’s presence, in particular, could facilitate Kirk’s potential exit.
However, the Texans also have 2023 sixth-round pick Xavier Hutchinson, who finished behind only Higgins and Nico Collins among the team’s receivers in catches, yards, targets, and TDs.
Hutchinson is extension-eligible this offseason, and he has stepped up when called upon.
Kirk is a veteran presence who still has the tools to be a security-blanket option for his quarterback. Whether or not the Texans would rather invest a roster spot on a younger option–or simply one who is more reliable in terms of health–remains to be seen.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
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