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Christian Kirk

Better than everyone thinks?

Much joshing (or complaining) about the contract the Jaguars handed Christian Kirk is occurring, especially since it kind of reset the wide receiver market, prompting a lot of monster contracts, trades and/or players perhaps wanting new deals. This doesn't mean, though, that Kirk isn't a good receiver.

True, he's played four seasons without going over 1,000 yards, and never kept defensive coordinators up or anything. But he is coming off his best season, one that maybe was better than most think.

Kirk's near-1,000-yard season last year came on 103 targets, a yards-per-target metric of 9.5. That was one of the best figures in the league among wideouts with at least 70 targets, up there with some of the truly elite guys at the position. Not that that makes him (or Brandon Aiyuk) elite, but it speaks favorably of what they might be capable of in a No. 1 role. (Teammate A.J. Green also shows up favorably, of course, so it might have something to do with the quarterback they're playing with and the offensive system in Arizona.)

WIDE RECEIVERS YARDS PER TARGET, 2021 (> 70 TARGETS)
PlayerTgtNoYdsAvgTDY/Tgt
Deebo Samuel, S.F.12177140518.3611.6
JaMarr Chase, Cin.12881145518.01311.4
Tyler Lockett, Sea.10773117516.1811.0
Cooper Kupp, LAR191145194713.41610.2
Tee Higgins, Cin.11074109114.769.9
Brandon Aiyuk, S.F.845682614.859.8
Justin Jefferson, Min.167108161615.0109.7
Christian Kirk, Ariz.1037798212.859.5
A.J. Green, Ariz.925484815.739.2
Davante Adams, G.B.169123155312.6119.2
CeeDee Lamb, Dall.12079110214.069.2
Mike Evans, T.B.11474103514.0149.1
Van Jefferson, LAR895080216.069.0
Mike Williams, LAC12976114615.198.9
Tyler Boyd, Cin.946782812.458.8
DeVonta Smith, Phil.1046491614.358.8
Emmanuel Sanders, Buff.724262614.948.7
Chris Godwin, T.B.12798110311.358.7
Tim Patrick, Den.855373413.958.6
Michael Pittman, Ind.12988108212.368.4
Mecole Hardman, K.C.835969311.828.3
Amari Cooper, Dall.1046886512.788.3
Marquez Callaway, N.O.844669815.268.3
A.J. Brown, Ten.1056386913.858.3
Russell Gage, Atl.946677011.748.2
Chase Claypool, Pitt.1055986014.628.2
Kalif Raymond, Det.714857612.048.1
Hunter Renfrow, L.V.128103103810.198.1
Terry McLaurin, Was.13077105313.758.1
K.J. Osborn, Min.825065513.178.0
Courtland Sutton, Den.985877613.427.9
Tyreek Hill, K.C.159111123911.297.8
Brandin Cooks, Hou.13490103711.567.7
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det.1199091210.157.7
Adam Thielen, Min.956772610.8107.6
Darnell Mooney, Chi.14081105513.047.5
DK Metcalf, Sea.1297596712.9127.5
Stefon Diggs, Buff.164103122511.9107.5
Jaylen Waddle, Mia.14010410159.867.3
Keenan Allen, LAC157106113810.767.2
DJ Moore, Car.16393115712.447.1
DeVante Parker, Mia.734051512.927.1
Elijah Moore, NYJ774353812.557.0
Marvin Jones, Jac.1207383211.446.9
Marquise Brown, Balt.14691100811.166.9
Jakobi Meyers, N.E.1268386610.426.9
Diontae Johnson, Pitt.169107116110.986.9
Kenny Golladay, NYG763752114.106.9
Jarvis Landry, Cle.875257011.026.6
Odell Beckham, 2TM824453712.256.5
Jamison Crowder, NYJ71514478.826.3
Laviska Shenault, Jac.100636199.806.2
Cole Beasley, Buff.112826938.516.2
Robby Anderson, Car.110535199.854.7

I'm not saying that Kirk is JaMarr Chase or Justin Jefferson. But at some point I wonder if he might be a little underrated by the people scoffing at his contract. Jacksonville certainly overpaid, but that doesn't mean he can't be a legit No. 1 wide reeiver, too.

--Andy Richardson

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