2022 NFL: Worst offseason move for each of the 32 teams
By Randy Gurzi
Jacksonville Jaguars: Christian Kirk contract
Christian Kirk is a decent wide receiver who recorded career highs in receptions (77) and yardage (982) last season for the Arizona Cardinals. It wasn’t a surprise another team was willing to go out and give him a new contract — Arizona already had DeAndre Hopkins, so they weren’t breaking the bank.
However, no one saw the contract he received coming. The Jacksonville Jaguars — in their annual desperation — overpaid Kirk in the worst way by giving him a four-year $72 million contract. For Kirk, this was great. No one is turning that down but the estimates seemed to be $10-12 million per season but the Jags went for $18 million.
The argument for making this move will be their desire to give Trevor Lawrence the weapons he needs to succeed. But in an offseason where several wideouts changed teams and the draft was loaded with elite talent at the position, the Jags found a way to pay premium money without significantly upgrading their receiving corps.
They could have used that money to upgrade the offensive line beyond Brandon Scherff, but instead, they buried Laviska Shenault on the depth chart (they also added Zay Jones) without vastly improving, and did little to help make sure Lawrence will succeed.