What You Need to Know:

• 2021, Kirk’s final year in Arizona, turned up 5 TDs and career highs in catches (77) and yards (984).
• Kirk posted 2 WR1 lines; 4 inside WR2 range.
• He played a full slate of games for the first time in his career.
• Playing mostly out of the slot, Kirk caught a career-high 74.7% of his targets alongside Kyler Murray.
• Among 33 WRs with 100+ targets, Kirk ranked a mid-pack 20th in yards per route run.
• The Jags signed Kirk to a massive 4-year, $72 million deal with $37 million guaranteed.
• He immediately projects as the team’s top target ahead of Marvin Jones and fellow free agent adds Zay Jones and Evan Engram.
• QB Trevor Lawrence praised Kirk in OTAs, calling him “quarterback friendly” while singling out his speed and football IQ.
• The Jags swapped out failed HC Urban Meyer for former SB champ Doug Pederson. It’s an upgrade — potentially a huge one — for this offense.
• In 5 years as Eagles HC, Pederson’s units ranked 10th, 8th, 7th, 13th and 6th in pass attempts. Mix in a suspect defense, and volume figures to be there for Kirk in ’22.

Draft Sharks Bottom Line:

Kirk, only 26 in November, landed one of the most shocking free agent deals in recent memory.

He’s a starting-caliber WR, but to date, he hasn’t proven to be anywhere near elite. Yet the money he’s earning says the Jags see that type of potential. If he can run with the opportunity, 120+ targets are certainly possible in what should be a much-improved offense.

At a 10th round price tag, Kirk makes plenty of sense as a WR4 with upside.