We’re deep in the trenches of the 2025 NFL offseason, meaning that the fun part is over. Now, the hard decisions begin—specifically, which players to keep and which to cut. The Arizona Cardinals are no exception: they’ve already begun the process by releasing linebacker Milo Eifler (while signing J.J. Russell). And there will be many more cuts made before the team finalizes its 53-man roster.
But with everyone focused on who to release, there’s a potential Cardinals reunion on the horizon. As other teams wheel and deal, cut and trim, and work out their squads, one analyst presented a scenario that might just lead to an Arizona homecoming. And it would be a wonderful addition to the team’s offense.
Arizona Cardinals might reunite with Christian Kirk
Christian Kirk began his NFL career as an Arizona Cardinal. The team selected him as the 47th overall pick in the 2018 Draft (the same year the Cardinals burned their first-round pick on Josh Rosen. Ouch.) Kirk played twelve games in his rookie season, where he notched 43 receptions for 550 yards and three touchdowns.
He got better over time, playing through the pandemic years before ultimately, signing a four-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022. The change of scenery helped: his first season as a Jag saw him notch over 1,000 receiving yards for the first time (1,108) and score a career-high eight touchdowns.
So, how does Kirk end up a Cardinal for 2025? Well, his 2024 season ended prematurely with a broken collarbone. The Jags then traded him to the Houston Texans in March for a seventh-round pick in next year’s draft.
In a recent article, Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox recapped the best players that could still be cut from each NFL roster, and picked Kirk as whom the Texans should ditch:
“There’s no guarantee he’ll make the roster. The 28-year-old is coming off a season-ending collarbone injury and entering a contract year. The Texans, who drafted Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in Rounds 2 and 3, respectively, could save $2 million by releasing Kirk.”
Do The Cardinals Need Christian Kirk?
Right now, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson look to lead the wide-receiver room, with Greg Dortch and Xavier Weaver as the backups.
But, that’s not on lock. The Cards buffed up their WR options during the offseason. They signed Zay Jones (Kirk’s former Jags teammate) and Simi Fehoko to a one-year deal. They also signed Bryson Green as an undrafted free agent.
The WR also has a bunch of people on future/reserve deals. Ex-Philadelphia Eagles players Quez Watkins, Tejhuan Palmer, Triston Jackson, and Andrew Baccellia (who bounces between the practice squad and active roster).
There’s depth, but a lot of it is untested. The Cardinals could make room for Kirk by cutting a few of these wide receivers who haven’t or aren’t going to do much*.
Doing so would not just give Christian Kirk the “prodigal son”-esque redemption arc, but it would give Arizona a veteran receiver as a solid backup, (and give Kyler Murray another weapon for the 2025 season).
And if you’re wondering, Knox suggests the Cardinals release defensive lineman Justin Jones. While doing so will only free up $95,000 in cap space, the team “may want to free up a spot at defensive end.” They could even trade him since Jones had 4.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss in 2023.
*It sucks to say this, since I don’t want to see anyone out of work. But maybe another team could use them better? Good luck, everyone.