The Bills were forced to cull much of their roster at the conclusion of the 2024 NFL season. Stefon Diggs, Micah Hyde, and Jordan Poyer were among the most notable departures, each bidding adieu to the city of Buffalo amid salary cap concerns.
Another player who lost his spot amid the scorn of cap space was Gabe Davis, whose Bills career came to a swift and sudden end in the past NFL offseason.
Davis' exit from Buffalo might have come as a surprise to those privy to his talent level. Still in his mid-20s, the lanky WR is blessed with a seemly frame for a player of his position and role. Buffalo used that physique to its advantage during his four years with the franchise, employing Davis to rip lofted Josh Allen efforts out of the air. More often than not, he did so successfully.
So, just why was the red-zone maven allowed to walk? Here's what you need to know about Buffalo's decision to let go of one of its most prominent pass-catchers.
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Why did Bills not re-sign Gabe Davis?
Davis was a polarizing figure during his time in Buffalo. On one hand, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound wideout was an effective No. 2, reeling in 163 passes for 2,730 yards and 27 touchdowns across four seasons with Buffalo — all of which came while deferring the majority of his potential targets to former teammate Stefon Diggs.
The 25-year-old had multiple high-profile outbursts, including a 201-yard, four-touchdown showing vs. the Chiefs in the 2022 AFC Divisional round. His propensity for touchdowns made him a fantasy football staple, even if his everyday production didn't hold up to some of the league's best pass-catchers.
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This environment served as the backdrop for Davis' departure. Although Davis impressed at times during his spell with the Bills, they were just spells. He failed to surpass the 40-yard plateau on 36 separate occasions. Meanwhile, he only eclipsed 100 yards eight times.
All of that is to say Davis was rather inconsistent while sporting the blue-and-red. His volatility, coupled with the precarious nature of Buffalo's salary cap, made his exit all the more likely, even if the Bills' front office expressed otherwise.
“Gabe’s a good player in this league, whether you want to call him a No. 2 or number whatever you want to call him, he’s a good player,” general manager Brandon Beane said in January, per the Democrat and Chronicle. “He’s earned the right … to see where his market’s at. We’d be a fool not to want him back, but it has to work for him, it has to work for us.”
Davis tested free agency waters soon after the 2024 season came to a close. He found a home with Jacksonville, a side that also possesses another top young QB but could potentially offer him more touches than Buffalo. The price wasn't too bad either; Davis inked a three-year, $39 million deal with the Jaguars.
The Bills wanted to keep Davis. However, they couldn't agree to a cost-prohibitive deal with the want-away wideout. So, he took his talents to The Bold City instead.
He's reeled in six-of-10 targets for 105 yards through two games with the Jags, but he's averaging a sterling 17.5 yards per reception. Bills' fans he doesn't make his former team pay in Week 3, but if he does, it's not as if it's something they haven't seen before.
