Bills Free Agency: 3 Options to Replace Gabe Davis at WR2
The Buffalo Bills should be interested in re-signing home-grown receiver Gabe Davis, but it may not be a fiscally realistic possibility.
By all indications, Davis, who has averaged 16.7 yards per reception since being drafted in 2020, is poised to test the free agent market and could command an average annual value anywhere from $12 million to $16 million. The salary cap-strapped Bills will need Davis to give them a hometown discount or must look elsewhere for a WR2 to play opposite of receiver Stefon Diggs in 2024.
Needing to trim an estimated $40+ million to become cap compliant, Buffalo can forget about high-end options like Michael Pittman, Tee Higgins or Mike Evans.
With those big names off the table, the Bills may find it worthwhile to explore a few cap-friendly options on this year's market. Three names that immediately come to mind all lack star power, but are three receivers that can potentially provide WR2 level production in the right situation.
© Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Three Potential Bills' WR Targets
Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, Arizona Cardinals
Brown flashed WR2 ability during his 1,000-yard receiving season with the Baltimore Ravens in 2021, but failed to reach that level of production during the past two seasons with Arizona. Making 14 starts in 2023, Brown accounted for the lowest single-season receiving total (571) of his five years as a pro while securing only 50.5 percent targets.
Still featuring the elite speed that Buffalo's receiving corps lacks, Brown, who has 28 career touchdown receptions, is a threat to take the top off opposing defenses. Spotrac, which has shown a tendency to overvalue free agents, projects Brown to earn $14,8 million per season on a new day. Last year, he made $13.4 million while his statistical production dipped.
K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings
Osborn appears to be a more feasible option for Buffalo, setting his market value at $7.5 million per year. Coming off his rookie contract, the 2020 fifth-round draft pick averaged 615 receiving yards and five touchdowns per season since 2021.
Although he doesn't possess the speed that Brown boasts, the 5-11 Osborn has shown adequate burst as a tertiary option in Minnesota.
Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots
There will certainly be questions about Bourne, who suffered an ACL tear midway through the 2023 campaign, and the Bills may be able to land him at a bargain price. The 28-year-old Bourne averaged 12.9 yards per reception and caught more than 73 percent of his targets over the past three seasons with the New England Patriots.
In a Week 7 head-to-head meeting against Buffalo this past fall, Bourne made six grabs for 63 yards and one touchdown as the Patriots posted a 29-25 victory.
