SANTA CLARA, Calif. — For the second time in a week, the San Francisco 49ers have added a veteran presence to their wide receiver corps, agreeing to terms on a one-year contract with Christian Kirk, a source told ESPN. The deal is worth up to $6 million, according to multiple reports.
Kirk, 29, spent the 2025 season with the Houston Texans after three productive years in Jacksonville and his first four with the Arizona Cardinals. In Houston he recorded 28 catches for 239 yards and one touchdown while missing four games with hamstring issues. He did, however, deliver a standout postseason performance: eight receptions for 144 yards in an AFC wild-card victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers — a single-game mark that set a Texans playoff record.
The signing continues a deliberate renovation of San Francisco’s receiving group. Last week the club opened free agency by locking up future Hall of Famer Mike Evans on a three-year, $42.5 million contract. With Evans now in the fold, the 49ers have secured two proven veterans while several familiar names prepare to depart.
Jauan Jennings remains an unrestricted free agent after extension talks stalled last offseason and has yet to sign elsewhere. Brandon Aiyuk’s exit is effectively a foregone conclusion; general manager John Lynch stated in January that Aiyuk had played his final snap in scarlet and gold. Lynch has indicated the team still hopes to facilitate a trade rather than release the receiver outright. A post-June 1 designation would allow the club to spread Aiyuk’s $29.585 million dead-cap hit across two seasons, but any pre-June 1 trade would force San Francisco to absorb the full amount in 2026.
Kendrick Bourne has already landed in Arizona, and Skyy Moore has signed with the Green Bay Packers. That leaves the current wide receiver room consisting of Mike Evans, Christian Kirk, Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins.
In scheme terms, Kirk projects as a natural slot complement. Evans is expected to handle the “X” role while Pearsall mans the “Z.” Kirk’s experience in the return game — though he has not returned kicks or punts since 2023 — could also provide depth following Moore’s departure.
A second-round pick by Arizona in 2018, Kirk has compiled 432 receptions for 5,415 yards and 30 touchdowns across eight NFL seasons. The one-year commitment gives the 49ers low-risk production and flexibility while they hold six draft picks in the first four rounds of April’s NFL Draft — ample ammunition if they choose to address the position further.
By adding Kirk on modest terms shortly after securing Evans, San Francisco has executed two veteran acquisitions with minimal salary-cap disruption and maximum roster stability. In a league where receiver rooms often turn over in loud, expensive fashion, the 49ers have done their remodeling quietly — and efficiently.
