Liam Coen‘s Jacksonville Jaguars shook things up on Wednesday, cutting ties with their veteran receiver—they signed Gabe Davis just over a year ago to a three-year, $39 million deal. Yep, he’s out. They labeled it a post-June 1 cut, which basically softens the blow for their cap space—it’ll hit them for $5.7 million in 2025 instead of the whopping $20.3 million. It seems like the new crew running the show in Jacksonville decided it’s better to deal with some dead money than keep this guy hanging around as a fourth or fifth receiver. Big moves, huh?

Alright, so here’s the deal—things haven’t gone exactly as planned for Gabe Davis. He was supposed to be a big deal when he signed a three-year, $39 million contract with Jacksonville in free agency. We’re talking guaranteed $24 million worth of hype. But now, just over a year later, the Florida native is back on the market. Yeah, 14 months in, and the Jaguars already say, “Thanks, but no thanks.” Brutal.

What happened? Injuries, man. Injuries happened. First, he suffered a shoulder injury in Week 8, then tore his meniscus in Week 11, ending his season prematurely—like a canceled Netflix show. Last year, he played only ten games and posted career-low numbers: 20 catches, 239 yards, and two touchdowns. That’s not exactly WR1 material. The NFL’s official page confirmed his release this Wednesday on their X handle.

Let’s discuss why the Jags decided to cut ties. Davis is still rehabbing his torn meniscus, which means he probably wouldn’t have been ready for the start of the season. He’ll likely start on the PUP list. But here’s the real story—Jacksonville’s move during the draft made things shaky. They traded up to pick Travis Hunter at No. 2 overall. Hunter is a two-way star—like a Madden create-a-player—who can dominate on both sides of the ball. They also signed Dyami Brown in free agency on a one-year, $10 million “prove-it” deal. Brown brings speed for days.

Then, they drafted Brian Thomas Jr., who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie wide receiver last season. When’s the last time Jacksonville fans felt this excited about their offense? With Hunter and Thomas in, the team decided Davis no longer fit into their plans—especially since he’s struggled on special teams during his five NFL seasons. That’s a tough pill to swallow if you’re fighting for a roster spot.

It’s wild to compare Davis’ start to his current situation. Back in Buffalo, he was clutch—163 receptions, over 2,700 yards, and 27 touchdowns in four regular seasons. Don’t forget those six playoff touchdowns. He torched defenses and made fans believe he was the next big thing. At 6-foot-2, with Trevor Lawrence throwing to him, you’d expect him to be Lawrence’s go-to target. But injuries, play-calling issues, and bad timing prevented him from finding his groove in Jacksonville.

Now, GM James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen focus on building around Hunter and Thomas as their core. Cutting Davis reflects the team’s offseason overhaul. Mitch Morse retired, Brandon Scherff was replaced on the offensive line, Christian Kirk now catches passes in Houston after a trade, and veteran tight end Evan Engram got released. After releasing Davis, some believe Coen may be signaling an exit for another $12 million option, too.

The future of Coen’s Jaguars ground attack: Tuten, Etienne, and Bigsby

After chatting with executives, scouts, and coaches, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler shared some intriguing insights from his post-NFL draft notebook. One highlight that caught everyone’s attention? Jacksonville Jaguars’ fourth-round pick Bhayshul Tuten might be the player to watch. Fowler explained, “Watch out for this guy.” But that’s not necessarily good news for everyone in Jacksonville.

Fowler’s hearing from league insiders that the new Jaguars’ regime isn’t exactly feeling the Travis Etienne Jr. vibes anymore, while Tank Bigsby has been coughing up the ball too often. Etienne started his career looking like the real deal, rushing for nearly 1,300 yards as a rookie with an impressive 5.2 yards per carry. But lately, his production has dipped. Over the past two years, his average has fallen to just 3.7 yards per carry, and he barely crossed 550 rushing yards in 2024. To be fair, the offensive line hasn’t done him many favors. Meanwhile, Bigsby showed flashes last season but still struggles with ball security—five fumbles in two years are enough to make coaches nervous.

Enter Tuten, the speedster the Jaguars drafted in the fourth round. Word is, Jacksonville was practically salivating when he was still available on Day 3. GM James Gladstone admitted that when Tuten clocked a 4.32-second 40-yard dash at the combine, they figured he wouldn’t last long on the draft board. “We were stoked to get him,” Gladstone said via Jaguars on SI. “At the end of the day, we’re all about leveling up competition, especially in our running back room—we need that position to deliver.”

With that 4.32 speed, Tuten isn’t just fast—he’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-him quick. Last season in college, he shredded defenses for 1,150 yards and a remarkable 6.3 yards per carry. His production wasn’t just top-tier; it placed him among the best. According to PFF, he ranked 20th in yards per rush, 15th in missed tackles forced and runs of 10-plus yards, and even cracked the top 10 for rushes of 15 yards or more. In short, Tuten knows how to make things happen on the field.

While much of the hype naturally centers on Trevor Lawrence and the passing game (because, after all, it’s a quarterback-driven league), the running backs will play a critical role in revitalizing the Jags’ offense. Coen’s system relies heavily on running backs as key contributors in the passing game, too, so these players could be busy all over the field. Coen’s offense emphasizes a balanced approach, where rushing and passing work together seamlessly. It’s like a well-choreographed dance—everything flows into the next, avoiding missteps. “It’s almost never just about one guy,” Gladstone said about the running back position. “It takes a squad effort to keep things smooth—just like our draft picks did.”

Clearly, Jacksonville has invested in its running back corps and retooled the offensive line this offseason. When you aim to elevate an entire offense, all moving parts must work in harmony—especially in the run game. With Tuten’s blazing speed and untapped potential, combined with the foundation the Jaguars are building, this running back room could become one of Jacksonville’s secret weapons… with or without Travis Etienne Jr. in the mix.