Kirk is moving on up in the AFC South, replacing Stefon Diggs in Houston after both wideouts suffered season-ending injuries last year. In Kirk's case it was just a broken collarbone, which means he should be ready for the offseason program as he enters the final year of a four-year, $72 million contract (the Jaguars traded him to Houston for a seventh-round pick in March). The situation in Houston is favorable for receiving production in general, but Nico Collins is locked in as the No. 1, and Kirk may face snap/target competition from rookies Jayden Higgins (Round 2) and Jaylin Noel (Round 3). There's also the matter of Kirk struggling in 2024 for the Jaguars before his injury. He had a career-high 13.7 aDOT and career-low 57.4 percent catch rate, which worked out to 47.4 receiving yards per game, down from 65.6 YPG in 2023 and 65.2 YPG in 2022. New Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley should get Kirk more short, easy receptions, but there's risk of physical decline, with the wideout set to turn 29 during the upcoming season after missing 14 games over the previous two years.
