Jaguars' Christian Kirk feels he's 'one of the best' receivers in the NFL

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk is doing some chirping following a successful season that included a playoff win. 

"Now, you know, especially with the season that I had … it started getting real quiet," Kirk told FanDuel's Kay Adams of "Up & Adams" about criticisms he heard throughout last year, as shared by Eric Edholm of the NFL's website. "And everybody kind of, you know, kind of hushed a little bit. But I just, I want my respect, you know. I feel like I'm one of the best receivers in the NFL. And that's the way I play. That's the chip that I carry on my shoulder and I'm gonna keep earning it."

Kirk entered the NFL when the Arizona Cardinals made him a second-round pick during the 2018 draft, and he featured for that organization across his first four pro seasons until he signed a four-year with the Jaguars last March that reportedly is worth $72 million and includes $37 million in guaranteed money. Some ripped the Jaguars and Kirk for resetting the receiver market at the time, but the 26-year-old largely silenced such talk with his play. 

According to ESPN, Kirk finished the 2022 regular season tied for 18th overall with 84 catches, 14th with 1,108 receiving yards, and tied for 11th with eight touchdown grabs. Perhaps more importantly, he helped second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence pick up some needed confidence playing under first-year head coach Doug Pederson. 

"Well, it's funny because I still feel like I don't get the respect that I deserve, and it's kind of been that way," Kirk told Adams. "And, you know, with all the noise and after I signed my deal this offseason, it was, you know, it was the loudest."

Kirk notched touchdown catches in the 31-30 wild-card playoff victory over the Los Angeles Chargers and in the 27-20 loss at the Kansas City Chiefs in the tournament's divisional round. He'll be hoping the best is to come considering he and Lawrence are still building chemistry together heading into springtime workouts.