The Buffalo Bills' receiver group has been a hot topic for a few years now. Under offensive coordinator Joe Brady, the Bills moved away from funneling a number one option to the “everybody eats” mantra.
So far this offseason, the Bills have added Joshua Palmer, who figures to be a big part of the offense, and Elijah Moore, who was a flashy get at the time of the signing. As we enter the final week of preseason games, Moore seems in jeopardy of losing his roster spot to Tyrell Shavers, who the Bills have been developing in the shadows for a few seasons now and has flashed two straight summers.
Now, the team is doing their due diligence, as they plan to host old friend, free agent wide receiver Gabe Davis, on a visit this week per Jordan Schultz.
Bills set to face their ex-playoff star Gabe Davis on free agent visit
Davis seemed to be rising star in Buffalo as Josh Allen’s number two option opposite of Stefon Diggs. He is mostly known for breaking the record of most touchdown catches in a single playoff game, with four, in what became known as the thirteen-second game.
However, inconsistency bogged him down. Davis would explode for a multi-touchdown game and over 100 yards, then go three straight games without recording a catch. At times, his hands were questionable too.
None-the-less, Davis was still good in Buffalo, with numerous splashy plays and highlight reel catches. In his four years in Buffalo, he totaled 163 catches, 2,730 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 16.7 tards per target.
However, he had a 54.5% catch percentage. Davis was also a contributor to games where it seemed like virtually no body was open for the Bills offense. A large chunk of those games came in the playoffs, where teams like the Chiefs would double Stefon Diggs, and man-up everyone else, not afraid of the rest of the Bills' receivers in beating man coverage.
Once viewed as a potential future Diggs replacement as the number one wideout option for the Bills, the team let Davis walk after his rookie deal was up. Thanks in large part to the massive deal Jacksonville offered him, at three years $39 million.
Davis appeared in 10 games for the Jaguars last season, recording just 20 receptions for 239 yards and two touchdowns. An early November meniscus tear would spell the end for his time there, as he was released this offseason after just one year.
Davis seems to be healthy as he’s taken visits with the Steelers, Giants, and 49ers. Now, the Bills will host him this week after he visits the Steel City for a second time, where there seems to be some real interest in him becoming a target for Aaron Rodgers.
Although the Bills' receiving core doesn’t boast super-star talent, they do have some nice players there. Palmer is a man-beater who can get open downfield, Khalil Shakir just signed a huge extension as Josh Allen’s go-to-guy and slot receiver, and Keon Coleman, entering his second season, has looked poised to take a step after a flashy summer.
Curtis Samuel has been hurt most of camp, and a lingering turf toe issue, and lack of targets derailed his first season in Buffalo. He did however, come on strong in the playoffs. Moore is a flashy route runner with speed, but has yet to show much this summer.
In fair regards to that, Josh Allen hasn’t played in any preseason games yet, and the first team offense has seen little action as well. Tyrell Shavers, as mentioned earlier, looks great as well, with size and speed, it almost seems like he has to make this team. So, where does Gabe Davis fit on this team?
At this moment, that is unclear. Cutting Samuel and Moore creates cap issues with dead money because of guaranteed money. They also already have a similar skill set to Davis in Palmer, who actually seems more refined. Shakir will be manning the slot, and you want Coleman out there as much as possible.
One vision that could come from this is Palmer and Davis on the outside, allowing Coleman to see more slot reps, where he could dominate nickel-corners. However, that is where Shakir plays best, and they also like having their tight ends, Kincaid and Knox, play in the slot too.
It does bring up the thought of, could we see a possible Curtis Samuel trade? That would essentially be a dump to get rid of his contract if he wasn’t going to make the team, and Davis is his replacement. It could also just be a check-in visit, in case of future injuries, they would have already done their homework on Davis. Similar to bringing back John Brown and Cole Beasley a few years back towards the end of the season.