Welcome home Gabe Davis! In a strategic move during the NFL’s legal tampering period, the Jacksonville Jaguars have filled the void left by receiver Calvin Ridley’s departure in free agency. The Jaguars have reached an agreement with former Buffalo Bills wideout Gabe Davis on a lucrative three-year contract worth $39 million. This information comes from a source familiar with the negotiations, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity pending the official announcement upon the commencement of the new league year on Wednesday.
With incentives factored in, Davis stands to potentially earn up to $50 million over the duration of his contract. His acquisition signifies Jacksonville’s decision to move forward without Ridley, acknowledging the financial constraints that make his retention untenable for a team currently grappling with limited salary cap flexibility.
Davis brings an impressive track record, having amassed 163 receptions for 2,730 yards and 27 touchdowns during his four-year tenure with the Bills, with an additional six postseason touchdown receptions to his name. Meanwhile, Ridley contributed significantly in his lone season with the Jaguars, hauling in 76 passes for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. However, the prospect of re-signing Ridley ahead of free agency would have necessitated surrendering a second-round draft pick, a price the Jaguars were unwilling to pay.
Opting for an alternative approach, Jacksonville opted to secure Ridley’s services for the upcoming season by relinquishing a third-round draft pick to the Atlanta Falcons, effectively renting his talents for 17 games. Standing tall at 6-foot-2 and hailing from nearby Orlando, Davis presents quarterback Trevor Lawrence with a formidable target capable of contesting contested catches and enhancing the team’s red zone efficiency.
Davis’s arrival marks the latest marquee addition to Jacksonville’s offensive arsenal, following the re-signing of left guard Ezra Cleveland to a three-year, $28.5 million contract and the agreement to bring former Bills center Mitch Morse on board with a two-year, $10.5 million deal. Additionally, the team renegotiated a more favorable cap figure for right guard Brandon Scherff and traded a sixth-round draft pick to the New England Patriots for quarterback Mac Jones, who will vie for the backup role behind Lawrence.
