The new regime of the Jacksonville Jaguars has addressed yet another blunder left over from former GM Trent Baalke.
The Jaguars are reportedly releasing veteran wide receiver Gabe Davis, per ESPN insider Adam Schefter. He was about to enter Year 2 of the three-year, $39 million contract he signed with Jacksonville in March of 2024. That deal included a hefty $24 million in guarantees, and the Jaguars are now eating a dismal ROI of 20 catches and 239 total receiving yards from Davis’ one season with the team.
The writing was on the wall for Davis, as new head coach Liam Coen not-so-subtly forgot to mention him when discussing his top projected targets for Trevor Lawrence with local reporters this offseason. The team’s bold move to acquire superstar WR prospect Travis Hunter during the 2025 NFL Draft was likely the final straw, but Coen has also talked up recent free agent addition Dyami Brown at various points.
How ready was new GM James Gladstone to move on from Davis? The team will incur a massive $20.3 million dead salary cap hit this season by releasing him.
For those, especially in the fantasy football community, still wondering how big of a snap share Hunter will see on offense this season, Davis' exit only opens up more opportunity. Davis was among Jacksonville’s offensive snap count leaders prior to his midseason meniscus injury.
The move to release Davis was due more to his production than health, however. He was brutal in the 11 games he played in 2024, struggling with drops while failing to impact the run game as a blocker. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound receiver showed some serious flashes as a member of the Buffalo Bills, but his most memorable moment in Jacksonville was a sideline spat with quarterback Travor Lawrence.
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With all due respect to Davis, this move is addition by subtraction for Coen's offense, and the Jaguars are paying handsomely to clear the books from Baalke’s handy work. Gladstone has now cut ties with big-name veterans Davis, Christian Kirk and Evan Engram over his first few months on the job.
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