Steelers Miss Out on Key Wide Receiver Target
It previously was reported that the Jacksonville Jaguars were planning on cutting wide receiver Christian Kirk, but the Jaguars have had a change of heart. They’re trading the veteran wide receiver to the Houston Texans for a 2026 seventh-round pick that originally belonged to the Los Angeles Rams, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic
The Jaguars new 34-year-old general manager James Gladstone pulled off a deal before release. Kirk is now heading to Houston. Eliminating a potential wide receiver target for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Gladstone, who got the job four days before speaking at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, said that the team had no intention of moving Kirk. Obviously that is not the case.
“No, I wouldn’t say that,” Gladstone said. “We’re just starting the conversations about our current roster across (our) pro 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.”
The Steelers were reportedly nearing a deal for Kirk in October, near the trade deadline. Kirk suffered a season-ending collarbone injury Oct. 27, thus blowing up those plans.
Kirk has been quite productive in the past, his best season coming in 2022 when he went for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns on 84 receptions. The Steelers are in desperate need of a wide receiver to pair with George Pickens, and Kirk could have been an answer. But there’s still plenty of options for the Black and Gold.
The Steelers have been linked to Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams and Davante Adams, who was released by the New York Jets on Tuesday. Tyler Lockett, Darius Slayton, Chris Godwin and Amari Cooper are also free agent wide receivers.
The team could also look to the draft, where Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, Texas’ Matthew Golden and Missouri’s Luther Burden III could be available when the Steelers pick at No. 21.