BREAKING NEWS: Bills Projected $54 Million WR Hints at Goodbye on Instagram
Following another season where the Buffalo Bills fell short of reaching the Super Bowl, general manager Brandon Beane faces tough decisions ahead.
Wide receiver Gabe Davis, a key impending free agent for the team, has been a topic of discussion among Bills fans. Davis’s performance has been polarizing in Buffalo, with some criticizing his inability to secure a solid WR2 position while others praise his popularity within the locker room. Despite being voted as a team captain last season, Davis has struggled with consistency on the field.
Spotrac.com projects that Davis, the Bills’ fourth-round pick from the 2020 NFL draft, could command a lucrative four-year, $54.4 million contract in free agency. However, the Bills find themselves significantly over the salary cap by approximately $55 million as they enter the offseason. Additionally, Davis has strongly hinted that his time with the Bills may be coming to an end.
On February 19, Davis took to Instagram to share an 8-minute video aimed at Bills Mafia, captioning it simply with emojis. In the video, he acknowledged individuals who contributed to its production. Despite expressing a desire to remain in Buffalo after the team’s playoff exit, Davis also acknowledged the business side of football in an interview on January 22, stating that he’s open to returning but will explore other options as well.
In response to Davis’s Instagram post, Michael Davis Smith of Pro Football Talk speculated that contract negotiations between Davis and the Bills may not be progressing well, suggesting a possible departure for Davis when he becomes an unrestricted free agent next month.
Gabe Davis was Called Out for Skewed Stats Provided in His Video
Davis’ video showcases highlights from his time with the Buffalo team, wherein he accumulated impressive statistics: 163 receptions out of 299 targets, totaling 2,730 yards and 27 touchdowns over a span of four years. The video concludes with specific statistical data seemingly aimed at positioning himself as a top-tier wide receiver.
Gabe Davis posted an 8 minute goodbye to BillsMafia on Instagram that ended with this pic.twitter.com/7w5e6B7HpV
— Tweets by Sneaky Joe (@SneakyJoeSports) February 20, 2024
Notably, two years ago, Davis set an NFL playoff record with four touchdown receptions against the Chiefs during the memorable “13 seconds” debacle. However, such standout performances were sporadic. In the 2023 season, he notably went without a catch in five games, and his drop rate of 5.1% was the highest among Bills receivers according to The Athletic.
Jared Dubin of CBS Sports observed Davis’ emphasis on his first-down conversion rate, touchdown efficiency, average depth of target, and frequency of explosive receptions, juxtaposed with his relatively lower target rate.
Dubin commented, “It’s probably worth noting that those things are connected. Davis’ high average depth of target plays a large role in why he had so many first downs and explosive plays when thrown the ball. It also explains why his catch rate across four seasons was 54.5% and never exceeded 56.5% in any individual season.
“It’s also worth noting that Davis’ 1.41 yards per route run average (per Tru Media) checked in 50th out of 91 receivers who ran 1,000 or more routes during the four years Davis has been in the NFL, while his yards after catch average checked in 60th among the same group of players.”
Gabe Davis Suffered a Knee Injury Ahead of the Playoffs
Following an injury sustained during the Bills’ regular-season finale, Davis was sidelined for the postseason, a setback particularly frustrating for him as he approached free agency, hoping to make a strong impression.
Ya gabe Davis outta here, went at it with the fans…
Video credit: @One_day52 pic.twitter.com/PqC7uiTTmP— Ryan (@RyanBuffalo01) January 23, 2024
Adding to his challenges, a video surfaced on X, depicting Davis engaged in a heated exchange with fans after the Bills’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. In the video, a man at Highmark Stadium can be heard shouting profanities at Davis, criticizing his performance. Davis, visibly upset, responds in kind, although his words are not discernible.
The viral spread of the video prompted Davis’ mother, Alana Davis, to share her impassioned perspective on the incident. She reposted a message characterizing the hecklers as “Loser entitled fans acting like scumbags,” asserting that her son was defending kicker Tyler Bass, who had missed a crucial field goal. Alana expressed her dismay that such a confrontation might mar Davis’ final moments at Highmark Stadium, lamenting, “And to think it was probably his last night on that field 💔 and he was gutted he couldn’t be out there! We hated how it all ended! He gave it his all these past 4 years! HIS ALL!! No matter the outcome, this disrespect is unacceptable.”