Christian Kirk trade proposal would have Justin Fields doing backflips

It's never too early to start with trade speculation, especially when talking about a 3-0 Pittsburgh Steelers team.

By that same logic, for a team that's 0-3, trade speculation can't help but arise.

In a recent column, ESPN insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano mentioned some rumblings they're hearing around the league. Graziano specifically alluded to the Steelers still being in on the wide receiver market after missing out on a Brandon Aiyuk trade during the offseason.

We've already talked about one of the two veteran wideouts Graziano included in this segment in Titans' veteran DeAndre Hopkins. But, the other one could give Pittsburgh more of a long-term solution.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are one of those 0-3 teams that may be looking ahead already and evaluating some potential big-time decisions. Whether it's firing head coach Doug Pederson or making a trade or two, the Jaguars could be headed for change.

Graziano wrote about Jags wide receiver Christian Kirk potentially becoming available as the Jaguars start to sort things out, and if the Steelers played their cards right, this could work out well for them.

A Christian Kirk trade could look very similar to the Justin Fields trade

Earlier this past offseason, the Steelers of course dealt for quarterback Justin Fields, sending the Chicago Bears a conditional sixth-round pick. Should Fields end up playing 51 percent of offensive snaps or more, that pick would turn into a fourth rounder.

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It's a win-win for both sides, which we could see happen yet again in a deal for someone like Kirk.

In this trade, the Jaguars would receive a fifth-round pick that could potentially turn into a third rounder based on the wide receiver hitting certain numbers for the rest of the season. Depending upon when the Steelers made a trade like this, the conditions would likely include something along the lines of offensive snaps played and potentially even total receptions or receiving yards.

If Kirk were to meet those conditions and the pick evolved into a third-round selection for Jacksonville, that also likely means the Steelers reaped significant benefits from the trade.

Pairing Kirk with George Pickens could be what this offense needs and might even take Fields to the next level, should the former Bear continue to start. Giving the young quarterback a speedy and shifty guy like Kirk, who can turn on a dime and make plays after the catch, would be huge for this offense.

So far on the season with Jacksonville, Kirk has caught 10 of 17 targets for 108 yards and has yet to get into the end zone. His best season came two years ago in 2022 when he finished with 84 receptions for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns in that initial season with Jacksonville.

Kirk is in the third year of a four-year contract worth $72 million, giving the Steelers more than just a one-year rental if they pulled off a trade like this.