After losing to the New England Patriots, Houston Texans’ top wide receiver, free agent Christian Kirk, could leave for a new team during the 2026 offseason. The Texans originally traded for Kirk to overhaul the pass offense for quarterback CJ Stroud after losing Tank Dell to a catastrophic injury. While Kirk won’t be a major addition for a team’s offense, he’s still one of the better pass-catchers in the league, given his experience as a playmaker. Originally selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the former Texas A&M product left the Cardinals in 2022 after leading them in receiving yards.
Arizona didn’t have the financial means to retain him, and they were in rebuild mode either way, so there was no reason to bring him back. Kirk went on to have back-to-back illustrious campaigns with the Jaguars. After posting career-highs of 84 receptions for 1,108 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, Kirk suffered a season-ending injury the following two years.
Texans Top Free Agent Christian Kirk Could Leave for These Three Teams
The veteran wideout hasn’t been the same since. While the Texans have several free agents to retain, they might not prioritize Kirk as their long-term playmaker. Houston has one of the strongest core receiving units in today’s game, between Nico Collins, Tank Dell and rookie Jayden Higgins, as long as three of them can stay healthy. The Texans are better off drafting another pass-catcher for Stroud as they’re closer to a Super Bowl than they think.
Meanwhile, this isn’t the last time anyone will see Kirk. He’s still an efficient wideout when he’s given the right opportunity, and these three teams could offer him a strong deal.
Possible Next Destinations
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers were a score away from advancing to the divisional round. The future is bright in Carolina as the team is probably one or two good signings from getting themselves into the NFC Championship Game. Bryce Young is still developing and getting his experience, but he could use another pass-catcher. Xavier Legette has been inconsistent for the past two seasons, so the team could consider trading him at a cheap cost.
If that happens, the Panthers should look into Kirk. The team has two reliable offensive weapons in rookie Tetairoa McMillan and a younger Jalen Coker. These two are the heart and soul of the pass offense for Young, but someone like Kirk could help them with the experience they lack. Kirk isn’t going to light up the field, but his presence should be a relief for Young.
Los Angeles Chargers
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Chargers are a better football team offensively than expected. After finally firing Greg Roman, Justin Herbert just might have the freedom to thrive again as an accurate ball thrower. Keenan Allen could leave the Chargers for a contender, so he could retire early. If he doesn’t return, the Chargers could sign Kirk on a one-year deal and pair him with Ladd McConkey.
Kansas City Chiefs
With the Rashee Rice new drama, the Kansas City Chiefs might have to panic again and sign a veteran pass-catcher. Rice could face a lengthy suspension. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, they don’t have the money to trade for a receiver. Kirk is a cost-effective option for Patrick Mahomes to lean on unless they restructure a few contracts. They can’t afford Xavier Worthy to handle all of the catches, so bringing in a veteran like Kirk could provide some temporary relief.