Bills Should Trade WR Gabriel Davis? Why Would Contender Do That?

The Buffalo Bills have been busy since the 2023 NFL Draft, and now comes a suggestion that they should get busy trading Gabriel Davis.

The Buffalo Bills have been moving and shaking since the 2023 NFL Draft, to their credit not sitting on their laurels but rather realizing that they need to be even better to bolster this roster for what is hoped is a Super Bowl season.

But along with the "hello's'' to talent come some "goodbyes.'' GM Brandon Beane recently acknowledged this when mentioning the "heartache'' of tough roster decisions in a salary-cap era. But we are not sure how that translates into a "goodbye'' to Gabriel Davis, as some have suggested.

One of these ideas comes from respected colleague Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated, who is pinpointing Davis as a player who the Bills might dump this offseason.

Matt's argument: "Davis is entering the final year of his rookie deal. ... Davis will command good money (in 2024), making his inclusion (on the Bills roster) going forward no small feat.''

It's true that Davis figures to be more expensive in 2024 when his four-year rookie deal expires; of course, that can't help but be true given that his rookie deal pays him an average of $998,000! 

That's right; Davis, who some Bills critics wish was more consistent (last year he caught 48 passes for 836 yards and seven touchdowns but did have ups and downs) is essentially an NFL minimum-wage player.

Why would a contending team dump a starting player who makes minimum wage in 2023? Because it is worried about how it will afford him in 2024?

The Bills are smarter to take a winner's mentality here. A winning team keeps its good players, especially its good players who play on the cheap. And a championship-contending team shoots its shot when it gets it.

The 2023 Bills have a Super Bowl shot. Getting rid of Davis now lessens the likelihood of success - period.

SI does mention that if the Bills "decide to go all-in on DeAndre Hopkins this season, Davis could be expendable ...'' - but we're not buying that, either. Even as the Bills are presently constructed, a third receiver is seen by some as a need (with the possibility of rookie "tight end'' Dalton Kincaid being cleverly used to fill it). So in the unlikely event that Hopkins comes to Buffalo?

Gabriel Davis still stays put and fills that "needed'' third slot.

The Buffalo Bills have an assortment of 2023 roster members who won't be here in 2024 or 2025 or 2026. There will be a time to consider that and to act on that. For Davis and other good, cheap players on this roster, this year is not that time.

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