Tyreek Hill Says Christian Kirk's Contract Led to Extension Request, Trade to Dolphins

The former Chiefs receiver said this week on Sports Radio 810 WHB that Christian Kirk's contract technically is what led to his trade from the Chiefs to the Dolphins.

The Jacksonville Jaguars made one of the biggest domino effect signings in recent memory when they signed wide receiver Christian Kirk to a four-year, $72 million deal last March. 

Among those most impacted? Tyreek Hill, who during an interview with Sports Radio 810 WHB revealed that Kirk's deal is what led him to request an extension from the Chiefs -- a request that later led to his trade to the Miami Dolphins.

“Christian Kirk got a crazy deal,” Hill said. “He signed the deal and like he surpassed me, and I’m like, bro, I compete on the field, and I also compete on the business out of this, too. So, I’m not going to let Christian Kirk have a higher contract than me. I’m just not.”

The Chiefs eventually traded Hill to the Dolphins for five draft picks, including 2022 first- and second-round picks. The Dolphins obliged Hill's desire to make more than Kirk, signing him to a four-year, $120 million deal that made him the NFL's highest-paid wide receiver. 

Kirk was among the NFL's top 10 receivers in average annual value when he signed his deal, but Hill wasn't the only receiver who got paid following his payday, shifting his ranking a year later. He is now No. 17 in AAV, No. 11 in guaranteed money, and No. 9 in total value, numbers that will likely decrease when Justin Jefferson signs his new deal.

Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke even addressed this storyline after signing Kirk last year when asked following free agency about criticism for Kirk's pay-day.

"Well, first of all, it's supply and demand, right?" Baalke said. 

"That plays a factor in free agency for sure. And if he comes in, and he plays to the level that the contract is and he meets the incentives, which I hope he does, and if he does nobody here, nobody in the stands, nobody in the national media is going to care about what he was paid, because he's earned every penny of it. And that's the ... the only time it's going to matter if he doesn't play well, and we're not worried about that."

Kirk was everything the Jaguars could have asked for in 2022 during a career year. Kirk finished with career highs in yards (1,108), catches (84), and touchdowns (8) while also catching 15 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns in the playoffs. Kirk finished tied for 18th in catches, 14th in receiving yards, and tied for 11th in touchdown catches.