Goodbye Gabe Davis? Bills WR Says 'Thanks for The Memories' Prior to Free Agency
Buffalo Bills' receiver Gabe Davis has built quite the highlight reel over his first four NFL seasons and the pending free agent publicly shared a video version of his journey via social media on Monday.
Posting to his personal Instagram account, the 2020 fourth-round draft pick published a video montage that reached nearly eight minutes in length. The footage ranged from scenes of Davis receiving a draft day phone call to his record four-touchdown game against Kansas City in the playoffs.
Depending upon interpretation, Davis' message could be a heartfelt goodbye to the organization that drafted him or a simple celebration of top moments from a Bills' tenure that he hopes to continue. Seemingly intending to test the free agent market, Davis has never closed the door on a return to Buffalo although the team's salary cap situation makes an agreement difficult to reach.
"I love Buffalo, love everything about it. Always open to coming back," said Davis in a voiceover during the first 30 seconds of his Instagram video.
© Mark Konezny, USA TODAY
The video also includes a resounding message:
“Bills Mafia,” it reads, “Thank you for changing my life. Thank you for the memories.”
Spotrac places Davis's average annual value around $13.6 million, which is likely too rich for the Bills. By comparison, the Jets gave Allen Lazard a four-year, $44 million deal to be their WR2 last offseason. Lazard made 60 catches for 788 yards and six touchdowns in the season prior to signing. Davis enters free agency coming off 45 catches for 746 yards and seven touchdowns.
"I can tell you 💯 Gabe Davis would love to stay in Buffalo. And there’s no doubt Bills would love to keep him. This feels very much a situation where there is "want-to" on both sides, but "very-tough-to-do" for each. I believe they'll still try to make it work, but will be tough," said Buffalo radio personality Sal Capaccio via his @SalSports X account.
Over 64 career regular season games, Davis averages 16.7 yards per catch and 6.7 touchdowns per year. Bills' offensive coordinator Joe Brady praised Davis for his run blocking prowess down the stretch this past season. Unfortunately, "Big Game Gabe" suffered knee injury in the regular season finale and was subsequently unavailable for the Bills' first two playoff contests.
The video montage ended video closed with multiple slides that listed Davis's statistical accomplishments, including his impressive postseason performances. Over his last four playoff appearances, he totaled 16 receptions for 389 yards and six touchdowns. Davis flashed his big-game ability as a rookie, making two toe-dragging catches in his playoffs debut — a 27-24 Wildcard win over the Indianapolis Colts.
