NFL News: Christian Kirk Reportedly Released by Jaguars Ahead of Free Agency

After spending the last three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk reportedly will be searching for a new home this offseason.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Jaguars plan to release Kirk ahead of the start of free agency.

Schefter added that releasing Kirk will clear $10.4 million in salary cap space for the Jaguars, who currently have a salary cap of $260.6 million, per Spotrac.

After spending the first four years of his career with the Arizona Cardinals, Kirk had signed a four-year, $72 million contract with Jacksonville before the 2022 season. He was originally set to make a base salary of $15.5 million in 2025 while counting for a $24.1 million cap hit, which would've been the highest on the team.

In his first year with the team, Kirk proved why he was worthy of such a big-money deal. He appeared in all 17 games in 2022 and recorded career highs across the board with 84 catches, 1,108 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. It was the first and only time that he surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in his now-seven-year career.

Since his stellar 2022 campaign, Kirk has struggled to stay on the field. He missed the final five games of the 2023 season due to a core muscle injury. He was limited to eight games in 2024 after suffering a broken collarbone in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers that forced him to miss the remainder of the year.

If healthy, Kirk can be a reliable option on the outside for a team that needs a veteran presence on offense. He should command a solid market in his second career trip to free agency.