Before the ink on the contract was even dry from the deal Kyler Murray and the Minnesota Vikings agreed to last week, people were already attempting to predict which remaining free agents might want to join the Pro Bowl quarterback in the Twin Cities.
As a former teammate of Murray's in both the NFL and in college, veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk was someone who many brought up as a guy who the Vikings could potentially bring in to be the team's No. 3 receiver for next season.
Well, any hopes of that happening were quickly crushed on Monday when Kirk reportedly signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers, according to NFL Media's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport.
Christian Kirk won't be joining Minnesota Vikings with Kyler Murray
It's not like Minnesota has a ton of salary cap space right now (just under $6 million according to OverTheCap.com), but Kirk was never viewed as one of the free agents who was going to command a big payday this offseason.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz shared that the 49ers' deal with Kirk is worth $6 million, and even with their lack of cap space, that still feels like an amount the Vikings could've matched if they wanted to (cap hit could have been spread out with void years).
But if there's one thing Minnesota has made clear this offseason, it's that they're not looking to spend much money, especially after spending a ton last year didn't even result in a playoff appearance.
With Kirk now off the market, there are still a few veteran free-agent wide receivers available that the Vikings could add this year to team up with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison next season, including Keenan Allen, DeAndre Hopkins, Hollywood Brown, Greg Dortch, and Brandin Cooks.
If Minnesota doesn't add another veteran pass-catcher this offseason, then it would speak volumes about the confidence they have in the guys behind Jefferson and Addison on their wide receiver depth chart, like Tai Felton, Myles Price, and Jeshaun Jones.
Then, of course, the Vikings could also just use a selection on a rookie receiver in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. There are a number of talented receiving prospects who could come in and make an immediate impact for Minnesota, including KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Germie Bernard, Brenen Thompson, and Zachariah Branch.
Wide receiver isn't an urgent need for Minnesota currently, but it would still be still be pretty surprising if they didn't add someone new from free agency or the NFL Draft before training camp this summer.