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Jacksonville Jaguars reportedly set to release WR Christian Kirk, saving over $10 million
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- Jacksonville Jaguars reportedly set to release WR Christian Kirk, saving over $10 million
The Jacksonville Jaguars are planning to release veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk , according to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The move will save Jacksonville $10.437 million against their salary cap this year, accounting for around $13.652 million in dead money in 2025, assuming Kirk's release is not designated as a post-June 1 release.
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If it were a post-June 1 release the team would save around $16.205 million, creating just $7,884,000 in dead money, according to OverTheCap.
Kirk was set to count $24,089,882 against Jacksonville's cap this year. With his release, the team has about $48,422,446 in cap space, according to OTC. Jacksonville had $37,984,564 in cap space entering today.
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At the Combine, Jaguars general manager James Gladstone was asked about Kirk's potential trade or release. He said the team hadn't had conversations like that yet, leading observers to believe everything remained on the table regarding Kirk's status with the team.
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"We're just starting the conversations about our current roster across both scouting and coaching staff as well as working in pro-free agent-related dialogue. So, at this point in time, I can say that we're happy to have Christian," Gladstone said.
The new league year begins on March 12 at 4 p.m. with the open negotiation period for free agency starting Monday, March 10 at noon. Once Kirk has been released officially, however, he will be free to sign with any team he'd like.
Kirk, 29, originally signed with Jacksonville in 2022, inking a massive four-year, $72 million deal with $37 million fully guaranteed and a $20 million signing bonus.
In three years with Jacksonville, Kirk caught 168 passes for 2,274 yards and 12 touchdowns. He played in 56 games, starting 41 as he operated primarily from inside at the slot position.
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Jacksonville's receiver group has been given a makeover for the last two years. After letting Calvin Ridley walk in free agency, the team released veteran wideout Zay Jones , replacing the duo with first-round pick WR Brian Thomas Jr. and free agent signee Gabe Davis .
Christian Kirk dealt with injuries last two years
Kirk's exodus from Jacksonville doesn't come as a surprise after the receiver sustained back-to-back season-ending injuries in 2023 and 2024.
In Week 13 of the 2023 season, Kirk sustained a complete groin tear, causing him to miss the remainder of the season. Kirk had dealt with an abductor tear throughout the season and played through it. He caught 57 passes for 787 yards and three touchdowns.
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In 2024, Kirk sustained a broken collarbone in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers . He missed the remainder of the season. Kirk caught 27 passes for 379 yards and one touchdown.
Kirk's best season came in 2022 when he caught 84 passes for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns, all career highs for the former Arizona Cardinals second-round pick.
(This story was updated to add more information)
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars plan to release WR Christian Kirk, per report
