Gabe Davis released: Jaguars cut wide receiver as casualty of Travis Hunter draft selection

The Jaguars are set to enter the 2025 NFL season with a new-look group of weapons for Trevor Lawrence.

While Travis Etienne remains the leader in Jacksonville's running back room, the offseason has shaken up the rest of the team's offense — tight end Evan Engram departed, leaving room for opportunity for the younger Brenton Strange, while the Jaguars spent high draft capital on one of college football's superstars last season: Travis Hunter. 

The former Colorado star is expected to play both wide receiver and cornerback for Jacksonville. And on Wednesday, the team cleared some room for Hunter to get his targets in 2025 by releasing veteran wide receiver Gabe Davis.

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Here's more on Davis' release and the current state of the Jaguars' receiving room. 

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Why did the Jaguars release Gabe Davis?

On Wednesday morning, the Jaguars announced they had released Davis, a five-year veteran who appeared in 10 games last season. 

There are multiple reasons why Davis' release makes sense for Jacksonville this offseason, despite the team signing him to a multi-year deal just last offseason and getting limited production from him in 2024.

For one, the Jaguars drafted a player who should provide elite receiving skills just weeks ago by selecting Hunter. At Colorado, Hunter totaled 1,258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns for the Buffaloes in 2024, displaying strong hands, route-running skills and speed. With Hunter in the fold alongside another proven young star, Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville has much less of a need for wide receiver depth — especially for a player like Davis, who, like both Hunter and Thomas, excels the most at making big plays down the field. 

With a young star duo at wide receiver, Davis became more expendable. Given that reality and the fact that Davis was due for a cap hit of over $6 million in 2025 and over $14 million in 2026, per Spotrac, Jacksonville is saving some money while also prioritizing its younger pass catchers alongside Lawrence.

Jaguars cap space

The decision to release Davis was an expensive one, as according to ESPN, Jacksonville absorbed a $20.3 million dead cap hit with the move. 

Jacksonville had around $27 million in cap space before the move, and the team will now have around $13.2 million to work with, according to FanSided's Black & Teal. However, the Jaguars also have not yet signed their new rookie contracts.

Gabe Davis contract

After being drafted by the Bills and playing four seasons for the team, Davis signed a three-year, $39 million deal with Jacksonville in the 2024 offseason. $24 million of that was guaranteed, per Spotrac, and he had a cap hit of nearly $5 million last season.

Gabe Davis stats

Now a free agent, Davis will seek to bring some big-play ability to his next team. He didn't get much of an opportunity to display that skill set in 2024, playing in just 10 games due to a torn meniscus that ended his season early.

At his best, the 24-year-old has proven himself as a downfield threat, playoff performer and capable WR2/3 on a good team. 

Here's a look at Davis' career numbers:

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Jaguars WR depth chart

Here's how Davis' release leaves the Jaguars' wide receiver room:

Even with Hunter being taken at No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, there's no reason to believe Thomas won't return to Jacksonville as Lawrence's go-to receiver. As a rookie in 2024, he finished third in the NFL in receiving yards (1,282), adding in 10 touchdowns and being named a Pro Bowler. If it weren't for a dominant season from 2024 rookies like Jayden Daniels, Brock Bowers, Bo Nix and more, Thomas would have been more of a premiere Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate.

With Thomas leading the receiving room, Hunter will also give Lawrence a dominant weapon, although it remains to be seen if his offensive snaps will be limited by his desire to also play cornerback. Whenever Hunter is on the field as a receiver, though, he will undoubtedly provide the Jaguars with a second receiver who is always a legitimate threat, with blazing speed and outstanding route-running skills.

Thomas and Hunter, alongside a strong receiving running back in Etienne, figure to absorb the majority of Lawrence's targets in 2025. But the Jaguars do have some depth even with Davis' release; Dyami Brown is coming off his best NFL season in Washington, totaling 308 receiving yards in 2024. He's yet another big-play threat and could step up if Hunter ever prioritizes defense.

Parker Washington, meanwhile, is heading into his third NFL season after being drafted by Jacksonville in 2023. He's slowly growing into more of a consistent weapon as both a receiver and kick returner, finishing with 390 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 2024. 

Among other names on the Jaguars' wide receiver depth chart are Austin Trammell and a collection of undrafted rookies like Joshua Cephus and David White Jr.