With the 2020 NFL Draft on the horizon, an interesting rumor hit the mill yesterday regarding Arizona Cardinals’ receiver and punt returner Christian Kirk. The Dallas Cowboys were one of the teams listed as being interested in trading for Kirk.
Christian was a 2nd-round pick in 2018 by Arizona. He was their #2 receiver last season, amassing 68 catches for 709 yards and three touchdowns despite only playing in 13 games.
Kirk also served as an occasional punt returner last year. He held the job full time as a rookie but that shifted in 2019 as his offensive role increased.
The Cardinals made a big trade this offseason for DeAndre Hopkins. With Larry Fitzgerald still around and last year’s 2nd-round pick Andy Isabella looking for more work, it would make sense that Arizona might be shopping Kirk around.
Rumor Mill: The #Cardinals have been shopping WR Christian Kirk #Arizona WR teams reported interested teams have been the #Cowboys and the #Redskins pic.twitter.com/KKhbt93kiD
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) April 18, 2020
Granted, this report isn’t coming from Rapoport or Schefter. And the Cowboys are often thrown into just about every trade or free agent rumor because it helps draw more eyes.
That being said, there is some sound logic here as to why Dallas might be intrigued by trading for Christian Kirk.
The Cowboys have yet to make a move to fill Randall Cobb’s #3 spot on the WR depth chart. Kirk would not only be a big upgrade over the current options but could also give Dallas a punt returner, which they also need after losing Cobb and not re-signing Tavon Austin.
Also, we did a little digging, and a much more credible source linked the Cowboys to Kirk back before the 2018 Draft.
Christian Kirk stood on all of his Combine times, but it looks like he’s gonna do some WR work here today. Definitely a guy the Cowboys have shown some interest in.
— David Helman (@davidhelman_) March 27, 2018
Christian Kirk went though a pretty lengthy special teams workout with Cowboys special teams coordinator Keith O’Quinn. The two of them had a lengthy chat walking off the field when it was over. #cowboyswire
— David Helman (@davidhelman_) March 27, 2018
While Keith O’Quinn is no longer the Special Teams Coordinator, he is still with the Cowboys in the scouting department.
So is this a potential draft do-over for Dallas? In 2018, Kirk was taken by Arizona just three slots before the Cowboys drafted Connor Williams. Would they have taken the receiver if he’d fallen to them?
Again, the cited source on this rumor may not be trustworthy. But clearly, Christian Kirk makes a lot of sense for the Cowboys given his youth and the team’s current needs.
