The Arizona Cardinals selected Christian Kirk in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Here’s all you need to know about Kirk, including our grade.
Strengths
Three years of big-time production in the SEC. Won’t be 22 until nearly Thanksgiving of his rookie season. An explosive punt returner. Muscled frame with strength and body to take hits. Stop-and-start ability and can make people miss in space. Breaks tackles and shows good vision to find lanes. Competes as a blocker in the run game and screen game.
Can make contested catches despite not being able to overpower CBs with his size. Kirk was constantly getting open despite wonky route trees and poor QB play. When he gets into open space, you’re not going to catch him. Catches everything. He can cut at full speed on a skinny post and leave dudes in the dust. Will stiff arm guys to the ground after the catch.
Weaknesses
Lacks height and may be seen as a slot-only receiver by some teams. Not as refined a route runner as he could be and will need to be in the NFL. Inconsistent route running and doesn’t break off his routes as sharply as he could. Not as elusive in space as you’d like. Didn’t have a lot of experience playing against press coverage. His sub-par agility times will call into question how much better he can get as a route runner and whether he can ever be a make-you-miss player in space.
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Grade
Grade: A
Kirk makes plenty of sense for the Cardinals, who needed to give Josh Rosena young weapon to put on the outside.