On second thought
Cardinals select WR 47th overall in second round
A&M’s Christian Kirk, UT’s Connor Williams go in 2nd.
COLLEGE STATION — The NFL stretches from coast to coast, but Texas A&M receiver Christian Kirk received a phone call from about five miles away letting him know his childhood dream had become a reality.
Kirk’s hometown Arizona Cardinals selected him with the 47th overall pick in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday night, meaning the playmaker from Scottsdale, Ariz., needs no geographic adjusting.
“It’s my element, it’s my environment,” an elated Kirk said. “I don’t have to adjust to anything. I can just concentrate on playing football.”
A welcoming roster
Kirk also will be plenty familiar with a handful of his Cardinals teammates. Cornerback Brandon Williams and tight end Ricky Seals-Jones were A&M teammates, and running back D.J. Foster was a teammate at Saguaro High School.
In addition, Kirk considers longtime Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald a mentor.
“He’s always been a guy I looked up to, not only on the field but off the field … and the things he does in the community,” Kirk said.
Kirk’s mood was quite different than the night prior, when he posted to Twitter, “You all are going to feel me, trust me,” to the teams that passed on him in the first round.
A&M this year didn’t have a first-round pick for the first time since 2010, but the Aggies didn’t have to wait too long Friday. Leading up to the second round, Kirk also retweeted the sentiment of Texans safety Tyrann Mathieu, a third-round selection in 2013 who has excelled at times in the NFL.
“I’m happy for everyone that got drafted tonight!” Mathieu posted on Thursday. “But that 2nd & 3rd Round always have diamonds in them!!!”
Kirk, a former five-star recruit, starred as a punt and kick returner for the Aggies in addition to catching at least two passes in every college game he played (39 in a row). Kirk also holds the school record for most punts returned for touchdowns in a career (six) and in a season (three in 2016).
After Kevin Sumlin was fired as the Aggies’ coach in late November, new coach Jimbo Fisher sat down with Kirk to get a feel for the team leader’s future. He realized Kirk already was planning on bypassing his senior season to enter the draft, but Fisher walked away from the visit impressed with Kirk’s ability to know exactly what he was after.
“Christian gets it,” Fisher said. “I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t have an unbelievable professional career. He’s so gifted, and he’s so wired in to what you want a player to think like and act like and play like.”
Watts might get a call
Kirk has never been much for braggadocio, but in the weeks leading up to the draft he made his pitch to teams in search of a durable receiver and returner.
“I’m up there at the top, if not the top,” Kirk said when asked how he compared to this year’s receivers in the draft. “That’s what I believe. I bring a different aspect to the game — a different dynamic. Being able to play in the slot, play on the outside, special teams and what not … I feel like I can make plays all over the field.”
In addition for A&M, playmaking safety Armani Watts projected as a mid-round choice, and only two Aggies might be selected.
“I’ve been one of the better leaders here these past few years,” Watts said recently when asked what he will bring to an NFL club. “I just have a drive for football.”