That can’t be the case in 2025, and longtime Steelers beat reporter Mark Kaboly predicted in a January 17 mailbag post that the team will acquire Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk.
A fan asked Kaboly, “Week 1 of 2025, how different is that team from the one that took the field in Week 1 this season, and what additions or losses do you predict happening?”
He responded, “I am going to give you my mid-January projected Steelers starting lineup… OFFENSE: Justin Fields, Jaylen Warren, Pat Freiermuth, George Pickens, Christian Kirk, Calvin Austin, Broderick Jones, Mason McCormick, Zach Frazier, Isaac Seumalo, Troy Fautanu.”
As you can see, aside from Fields replacing Russell Wilson at quarterback and Warren taking over for Najee Harris at running back, Kirk is the only significant change. While Fautanu wasn’t available in 2024 due to injury, the only external addition in Kaboly’s early “projection” is the 28-year-old wide receiver.
There were rumors that the Steelers nearly traded for Kirk before this year’s midseason deadline, but the former second-round pick and 1,000-yard receiver broke his collarbone in the following game. That injury ruled him out as an option for Pittsburgh at the time, but Kaboly appears to be betting that the Steelers still have interest in him.
Potential Steelers WR Target Christian Kirk Is Still Under Contract With the Jaguars in 2025
there would need to be a trade, with the Steelers acquiring Kirk from Jacksonville, or the Jaguars would have to release him, allowing Pittsburgh to sign him as a free agent.
Kaboly did not clarify which scenario he envisions, but given Kirk’s contract status, a trade seems like the more likely path if the Steelers truly have their sights set on him.
Either the Steelers follow through on their reported interest from last October and trade for Kirk, or the Jaguars release him as a cap casualty.
According to Over the Cap, cutting the veteran before June 1 would save Jacksonville just over $10.4 million in 2025, but it would also leave them with a dead cap hit of approximately $13.65 million.
However, if the Jaguars designate Kirk as a post-June 1 release, their savings would increase to over $16.2 million, while the dead cap hit would drop to $7.884 million.
Ultimately, Jacksonville’s new head coach will likely determine whether the team keeps or moves on from Kirk.
If Doug Pederson were still running the offense in 2024, Kirk’s return would have been much more likely.
Now, it’s a toss-up, and Kaboly appears to believe the Jaguars will part ways with him.
