Jaguars land Bills’ Gabe Davis for $39 million as Calvin Ridley explores free agency market

The Jaguars didn’t wait for Calvin Ridley to decide on his next team before putting their Gabe Davis plan into action.

While Ridley, the top receiver available in free agency, explores his market, the Jaguars and Davis agreed to a three-year, $39 million contract that includes an additional $11 million in incentives, according to reports.

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Davis and Marquise Brown were widely considered the next-best free agents to Ridley on a market that was watered down in the last few weeks by franchise tags (Bengals’ Tee Higgins and Colts’ Michael Pittman) and late extensions (Buccaneers’ Mike Evans). Higgins reportedly requested a trade and Pittman parlayed his tag into an extension.

The 2024 NFL Draft class is rich with receivers who have first- and second-round grades by analysts, so that depth could drive down the price of receivers who do not act fast in free agency.

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Davis was a fourth-round draft gem by the Bills who totaled 163 catches for 2,730 yards and 27 touchdowns in four regular seasons.

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He is best known for his playoff-record four touchdown catches during the epic Chiefs-Bills overtime playoff game in January 2022.

The Jaguars reportedly are not closing the door to Ridley, but he is a prime overpay candidate given the lack of other proven 1,000-yard options.

Ridley returned with a bang last season after he was suspended for all of 2022 due to violating the league’s gambling policy.

The Giants had been connected to Davis because of the Buffalo roots of general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.