Christian Kirk selected by Arizona Cardinals in second round of NFL Draft

Christian Kirk’s wait for employment came to an end on Friday night when the explosive Texas A&M receiver/kick returner was selected by his hometown Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the National Football League Draft.

Kirk was hoping to extend Texas A&M’s streak of at least one player taken in the first round to eight consecutive seasons. However, his selection ensured the Aggies would have a player drafted for the 11th consecutive year.

No Aggies were taken in the ’07 draft.

In Kirk, a native of the Pheonix area, the Cardinals gained a first-round talent.

He opened his A&M career as a true freshman by catching six passes for 106 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown, and returning a punt 79 yards for a touchdown in a 38-17 victory over Arizona State in the 2015 season opener.

Kirk closed his career with 13 catches for 189 yards and three touchdowns in a 55-52 Belk Bowl loss to Wake Forest last Decmeber.

Matt Sachs, TexAgs

Kirk caught 234 passes for 2,856 yards and 26 touchdowns during his time at Texas A&M. He also returned five punts for touchdowns.

Overall, Kirk, who worked with six quarterbacks in his three-year A&M career, caught 234 passes for 2,856 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also averaged 22 yards on punt returns, took five punts for scores and returned a kickoff for a touchdown. He had 37 pass plays that covered 23 yards or more.

He figures to make an immediate impact in Arizona, which drafted UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen in the first round.

The Cardinals needed to shore up their receiving corps after wide-out John Brown signed a free agent deal with the Baltimore Ravens.

Star receiver Larry Fitzgerald is entering his 15th season.Last season Fitzgerald had 109 receptions for 1,156 yards and six touchdowns. No other wide receivers had more than 31 catches.

Kirk, who will be reunited with former Aggie teammate tight end Ricky Seals-Jones, is the fourth A&M receiver to be selected in the second round.

Terrence Murphy was a second round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2005, Bethel Johnson was taken by the New England Patriots in 2003 and Robert Ferguson was chosen by the Packers in 2001.