We continue our New Orleans Saints season reviews with wide reciever Keith Kirkwood, who missed much of the 2019 season on injured reserve.
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We continue our end of season reviews at Saints Wire with wide reciever Keith Kirkwood. Kirkwood is entering his third year in the NFL, which started as a practice squad call-up back in 2018. During that 2018 season campaign, the rookie wide receiver played in just eight games but finished the year third on the wide receiver corps in receptions and yards, and was second in touchdown receptions.
After a disappointing 2019 campaign waylaid by a serious hamstring injury, Kirkwood will spend this next offseason rebuilding his value in hopes he can make an impact next season.
Level of Play in 2019
Expectations were high heading into Kirkwood’s 2019 season, and he looked to have an expanded role in the offense. Instead, during Week 1 against the Houston Texans, Kirkwood exited the game after 12 snaps and would never return to the field in the 2019 season. During those 12 snaps, Kirkwood was not targeted, and therefore we don’t have even the slimmest of sample sizes to work from in regards to his performance. However, he did try to return from the injured reserve late in the season, but ultimately the Saints decided to hold him back after some sort of setback.
What to expect in 2020
Kirkwood will be an exclusive rights free agent this offseason. That means he can play with the Saints on a one-year minimum salary (about $650,000) or sit out a year entirely. New Orleans will likely keep him around for another year, with hopes of a resurgence from the young wide receiver.
Prior to the 2019 season, the Saints viewed Kirkwood in high regard. He lined up as the stand-in for Michael Thomas during the superstar’s brief training camp holdout. Kirkwood has shown a knack for converting first downs, and in 2018 averaged 14.5 yards per reception.
At Kirkwood’s best, he provides a great option in the passing game with a ceiling that could see him be a number two-type receiver behind Thomas. Realistically, he will compete for the a spot on the depth chart with Tre’Quan Smith and Lil’Jordan Humphrey. However, his sample size has been limited the last two seasons, with 2019 being all but non-existent which makes any type of projections tough. Kirkwood should hope to put together a solid 2020 campaign that will have the Saints thinking hard about his long term future with the team.
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