Christian Kirk ended up in a good situation when the Arizona Cardinals selected him with the 47th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
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A huge get for the Arizona Cardinals came in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft when they snagged the Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Christian Kirk. A versatile threat on offense and special teams for the Aggies over the course of his college career, Kirk offers a ton of value to Arizona’s offense immediately.
Texas A&M had the first overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, when the Cleveland Browns selected ultra-athletic defensive end Myles Garrett. This year, the Aggies had to wait a bit as Kirk was likely their first prospect to be taken off draft boards. Safety Armani Watts was the second best prospect sent out from College Station, TX, in this class.
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Arizona picked up Kirk with the 47th overall pick, one of the better selections of the second round. He helps fill a huge need for the Cardinals as their aging offensive starters need some relief leading up to the 2018 campaign. Former USC Trojans quarterback Carson Palmer already retired after the conclusion of the 2017 season.
The biggest role that Kirk will look to fill for the Cardinals is the receiver spot of potential NFL Hall-of-Famer Larry Fitzgerald. Turning 35-years-old prior to the start of the upcoming regular season, the time is running out for Fitz in Phoenix. Kirk is the next man up here with his talent level.
A positive takeaway for Kirk with his destination in the NFL is that Fitzgerald could still be a top-level receiver in 2018. He hasn’t slowed down in the last three years, finishing with at least 1,000 receiving yards each of those three seasons.
One thing that Kirk can definitely learn from Fitzgerald is his ability to win 50/50 balls and run crisp routes on the outside. Kirk was a solid receiver that could play both on the outside and inside slots, but he could learn something from Fitzgerald about really standing out as a primary target in the passing game.
Next: What's the ceiling for Texas A&M football in 2018?
This is a great landing spot for Kirk, and a great value pick for the Cardinals. They have a need to bolster the receiving corps, and that’s exactly what they were able to do with a player that should have been picked in a higher slot. He’ll be able to provide the Cardinals’ offense some relief after the eventual retirement of Fitz.