Gabe Davis explains ‘easy decision’ to sign with Jaguars

Former Buffalo Bills receiver Gabe Davis was already in Florida when the Jacksonville Jaguars came calling Monday. After spending time at his alma mater, UCF, he took a shower, went to the gym, and then buckled down for the chaos of free agency.

“As soon as 12 o’clock hit, it all just started going and going. As soon as I heard Jacksonville, I was like ‘Thank God, they called. Thank God,’” Davis told reporters at a press conference Thursday. “I wanted to come back to Florida, I wanted to be around guys that I knew, a coast that I loved, and the team is great. Shoot, we could never beat them.

“Came here and as soon as they sent it in … boom, I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m a Jaguar man.’ A pretty easy decision.”

While the Chicago Bears reportedly made a similar offer to the receiver, Davis wasted no time agreeing to a three-year, $39 million deal with the Jaguars.

One of the big draws for Davis was the opportunity to reunite with Jaguars wide receiver coach Chad Hall, who previously coached the Bills’ receivers. It didn’t hurt either that Jaguars receivers gave the place a rave review.

“Chad is like family. I was with him for three years in Buffalo,” Davis said. “Family first, and no matter if I was here or somewhere else, I still talk to Chad on the regular. He’s definitely a dear friend of mine.

“I was also able to have some friends that have been through here and also play here, Christian Kirk and I know Zay Jones. … One of my buddies, Jacob Harris, who I played at UCF with was here for awhile and he gave me some real good insight on Jacksonville is the place to be and you’ll be happy here. I had some good people to tell me some good things. It made my decision a lot easier.”

After the somewhat surprising departure of Calvin Ridley, the Jaguars may be forced to rely more on Davis than initially planned. In four years with the Bills, the 2020 fourth-round pick caught 27 touchdown passes and racked up 2,730 receiving yards, despite never reaching 50 receptions in a season.

The receiving corps may still be a work in progress. But there’s seems to be no doubt the Jaguars got a player in Davis who absolutely wants to be in Jacksonville.