Cardinals select Saguaro product Christian Kirk

Texas A&M WR falls to Arizona at No. 47

TEMPE — Arizona addressed a need in the second round of the NFL draft, selecting wide receiver Christian Kirk of Texas A&M, who grew up just a few miles down the road from the Cardinals’ headquarters.

The 5-foot-11, 205-pound receiver lists the Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald as a mentor and has a couple of former A&M teammates on the Cardinals roster. He said “the stars aligned” for him to go to his hometown team. Arizona has Fitzgerald and not much else at wide receiver so Kirk has a chance to help right away. Kirk — a star at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale — had more than 3,000 all-purpose yards and 40 touchdowns in his three seasons with Texas A&M. “I’m a Valley kid, born and raised,” Kirk said. “So just to be able to have this opportunity to go into the Cardinals organization and help make this organization better and to win games. When I got the phone call, it was just so surreal. Just no words to be able to describe it.”

Kirk also is a standout punt returner, something the Cardinals already have talked to him about.

“Yes, sir,” he said. “Special teams, every aspect, punt and kick return and to just be able to do that wherever I can bring value and have an impact on the field.”

He was the 47th player overall and fifth wide receiver chosen in the draft.

General manager Steve Keim said he’d followed Kirk’s career for some time because of the local ties.

“Not only is he a great player on the field but he’s certainly a class act off,” Keim said. “Fits our DNA that coach has talked about over and over. Not only a very good receiver, dynamic player but also adds value in the return game.”

Kirk said Fitzgerald has “always been a guy that I’ve looked up to, just not only on the field but off the field, to be able to carry myself.

“The things that he does in the community. I’m just so excited to get out with him,” Kirk said, “and be able to learn from a future Hall of Fame wide receiver and go out there and be able to play together.”

Cardinals tight end Ricky SealsJones and cornerback Brandon Williams were his teammates at Texas A&M. Arizona running back D.J. Foster was “a big brother to me” as teammates at Saguaro High, he said.

“It’s crazy how things go full cir-