Texas A&M Football: Updated Christian Kirk 2018 NFL Draft stock
By Jeff Shull
Where do the experts project former Texas A&M football wide receiver Christian Kirk will be selected in the 2018 NFL Draft, and are they right?
Texas A&M wide receiver Christian Kirk decided to forgo his senior season as an Aggie and enter the 2018 NFL Draft. Judging by his production over three years, it’s hard to blame the guy.
The Arizona native had three straight seasons with at least 70 catches, 900 yards and seven touchdowns. His final career receiving numbers were 234 catches, 2,856 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also was a threat as a returner, amassing seven total return touchdowns in his three-year career.
Whoever drafts Kirk will be getting an explosive player who can hurt a defense in multiple ways. This is why many NFL Draft experts are pegging Kirk in the first couple of rounds in most mock drafts.
Let’s have a look at where the experts are mocking Kirk and what they are saying.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper: No. 32 overall to the Philadelphia Eagles
Kiper recently spoke to 247 Sports about Kirk and explained his pick:
"I think you look at wide receiver and that’s gotta be up there, especially when you factor in Christian Kirk’s punt, kick return ability. That will be a big bonus, and the fact that he can really help out Carson Wentz when Carson comes back from that injury."
"So you help out your young quarterback, you get help on special teams in the return game, and then you wait a little bit. You wait a little bit for an offensive lineman. It’s a pretty deep year at that spot. If you wait a little bit for a linebacker, it will be another possibility down the line."
Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller: No. 39 overall to the Chicago Bears
Miller previously mocked Kirk to the Dallas Cowboys, and on that pick he had this to say about Kirk:
"Another receiver comes off the board in the teens—and this one can fly."
"If you watched the Dallas Cowboys down the stretch, you saw how badly they need speed on the outside of the formation. Dez Bryant is on his last legs and might not even be back in Dallas next season. Brice Butler and Terrance Williams are not top options. That makes the selection of at least one receiver a priority in this draft."
"Christian Kirk isn’t the tallest (5’11”, 200 lbs) but he’s a compact, exciting, fast receiver who can play in the slot or split out wide. He would give the Cowboys offense an immediate jolt of speed and playmaking ability if he can adapt to the Dallas scheme coming out of Texas A&M."
CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso: No. 31 overall to the New England Patriots
What they say:
"Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M. Kirk is the type of make-you-miss, downfield threat the Patriots seem to love at the wideout spot and would fill in for Danny Amendola immediately if he leaves in free agency. Even if Amendola is re-signed, Kirk would bring youth to New England’s pass-catcher group."
Walter Football: No. 54 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs
What they say: “The Chiefs don’t have much at receiver outside of Tyreek Hill, so this is something they’ll have to remedy this offseason.”
ESPN’s Todd McShay: No. 24 overall to the Carolina Panthers
Bleacher Report’s Joe Tansey: No. 24 overall to the Carolina Panthers
Neither McShay nor Tansey had specific notes about the pick, but you can easily see their thought process. The Panthers are definitely in need of weapons on the outside for Cam Newton.
Next: Top 10 QBs in Aggie football history
While his projections are pretty wide-ranging, it’s clear NFL teams think highly of Christian Kirk or these insiders would not be mocking him so high. The NFL always has a place for someone as speedy and shifty as Kirk. Whichever team selects him will be getting a special player and someone who could have an impact immediately.
Jeff Shull is a Site Expert for the Gig Em Gazette on FanSided. Follow him on Twitter, and be sure to follow the Gig Em Gazette on Facebook and Twitter.