Perfect opportunities to add talent to a roster only come up every so often in the NFL. When they do, they don’t stay for long.
The Arizona Cardinals have had the chance to solve one of their most pressing needs sitting right in front of them. If they don’t move quickly, that chance could disappear.
Cardinals may have missed their shot at Gabe Davis
Earlier this offseason, the Jacksonville Jaguars released wide receiver Gabe Davis. Davis had been disappointing in Jacksonville after an impressive stint with the Buffalo Bills. Davis posted career lows in receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns, and yards per reception. He failed to be the secondary receiving threat that the Jaguars hoped he would be.
With Davis’s release, the Arizona Cardinals had the chance to fill a huge need on offense. The Cardinals lacked a field-stretching receiver in 2024, and it showed. Kyler Murray's average depth of target in 2024 was just 6.9 yards. According to Yahoo Sports, this ranked 31st in the NFL. Murray was rarely ever able to push the ball down the field, so defenses didn't have to respect the deep ball.
This lack of spacing limited players like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride. The Cardinals’ star pass catchers were forced to work in tight areas, leading to more contested catch situations than the team should hope for.
The Cardinals needed a deep threat to open up the offense, and Gabe Davis seemed like the ideal candidate. Davis would be cheap to acquire, too, because the Jaguars are still paying the majority of his salary. But the chance may be slipping away.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Gabe Davis is meeting with the New Orleans Saints. He also met with the Pittsburgh Steelers recently. With these meetings piling up, it's only a matter of time before Davis signs with another team.
The Cardinals should act quickly to sign Gabe Davis. If they don't, they may live to regret it when they play the New Orleans Saints in the opening game of the 2025 season.