The Jacksonville Jaguars turned heads when they released Gabe Davis. Expected to provide a spark to the offense, the veteran wideout was instead overwhelming. The team's brass didn't think he was going to be much better in 2025, so they made the drastic decision to move on from him. The good news is that his departure won't create a roster hole, but that will change next year.
The Jags can withstand Davis' release because they signed Dyami Brown in the offseason and later traded up in the NFL Draft to select two-way star Travis Hunter second overall. The duo will join a receiver corps that includes Parker Washington and Brian Thomas Jr. However, Brown is slated to become a free agent in 2026, and it's hard to picture him returning, especially if he picks up where he left off last year, as the front office envisions.
Similarly, Washington will enter a contract year in 2026, so the Jags will need to replenish their wide receiver unit. Sure, Thomas and Hunter will start, but they'll need a No. 3 and depth behind them. Jacksonville doesn't currently have many enticing options.
Third-year pro Elijah Cooks or sophomore Joshua Cephus III could vie for a roster spot, but neither has done enough, at least at this stage of their respective careers, to make you think they'll come through if thrust into action.
It's also worth noting that Jacksonville signed four wide receivers after the draft concluded: Chandler Brayboy, J.J. Jones, Cam Camper, and Eli Pancol. One of them could sneak into the initial 53-man roster or land in the practice squad after the preseason. That said, all four are developmental prospects, and at this point, it may be too early to expect any of them to contribute.
The Jaguars must add depth at WR after releasing Gabe Davis
Instead of taking on $20 million in dead money in 2025, the Jacksonville Jaguars are spreading the hit to the next four years. That will give them a bit of breathing room to make one free-agent signing or two if they want. If they want immediate depth, they could go after Keenan Allen or Amari Cooper. Neither receiver is as productive as they were in their heyday. Having said that, they still have gas in the tank and could turn out to provide lots of bang for the buck.
On the other hand, the Jags have Dyami Brown in the fold, and barring injuries to their receiver corps, it's hard to see them making further additions to the position in 2025. But once Brown leaves, the Jags will need to replace him. The open market could offer several enticing, cap-friendly options, but the front office could turn to the draft and invest a Day 2 pick on a receiver prospect.
This becomes a realistic possibility when you take into account that the Jags acquired two extra selections in the third round next year after making a deal with the Detroit Lions in 2025. They could use one of those picks to either add a receiver or put together a package to trade up and get one.
The bottom line is that the Jacksonville Jaguars will need to replenish their wide receiver group, and they have the assets to make it happen. That's surely one of the reasons they didn't hesitate to cut ties with Gabe Davis.