Corey

Davis

Davis retired just before the start of the 2023 season but has since decided to attempt a comeback. The Jets released him early in the offseason, allowing him to sign with any team willing to take a shot on him. The Bills are shockingly thin at wide receiver heading into the season, creating a need for extra depth at the position. Davis won’t be a fantasy-relevant option in Buffalo, but he could provide the team with a veteran presence as they attempt to figure out their rotation.

Confusingly, this is actually Davis’s necessary first step toward a comeback, one that could reportedly see him re-sign with the Jets. The news comes the same day the Jets leaked their intention to trade Allen Lazard, so perhaps there’s legs here. Still somehow only 29 years old, Davis could be a decent role-playing No. 3 wideout on the boundary.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh said earlier that Davis was at risk of missing Week 1 against the Bills but wouldn’t get into specifics. Now we know why. The former No. 5 overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft appears ready to call it quits after six seasons. Davis was selected by the Titans out of Western Michigan and joined the Jets in 2021. While he never lived up to his lofty draft capital, the veteran receiver posted a career-high 984 yards and five touchdowns in 2020 and was a solid WR2 for the Jets over two seasons. His retirement permanently elevates Allen Lazard to the Jets’ WR2 role and makes him a low-end WR3 option alongside teammate Aaron Rodgers.

Davis has missed significant time while on personal leave. Saleh said Davis could take as much time as he needed. That could mean the veteran won’t rejoin the Jets ahead of their season opener against Buffalo. In such a scenario, Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, and some combination of Randall Cobb and Mecole Hardman would start in three-receiver sets.

Lawson essentially agreed to a pay cut in exchange for some guaranteed money. He was set to make $15 million this year but the Jets could have saved nearly all of that by cutting him. Instead, they will bring him back on a deal that is worth $9 million with $8 million in guarantees. He can also make an additional $3 million back through incentives. Corey Davis and C.J. Mosely are both set to make over $10 million as well. Expect the Jets to strongarm one or both of them in pay cuts over the summer as well.

It’s possible Davis is an underrated winner of the offseason despite the Jets bringing in the duo of Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb to appease Aaron Rodgers. Once considered a potential cap casualty, it sounds like Davis will be with the Jets heading into this season, giving him a chance to reprise his role as the No. 2 receiver opposite Garrett Wilson. Davis totaled 32 receptions for 536 yards and two touchdowns in the Jets’ lifeless offense last season but averaged a career-best 16.8 YPR. The Jets didn’t take a receiver in last week’s draft, and even if Davis loses some ground to Lazard, it’s unlikely Mecole Hardman or Cobb threaten him for playing time.

Rosenblatt writes in his article at The Athletic that the Jets could save $10.5 million by releasing Davis while paying little more than $600k in dead cap. Since joining the Jets in 2021, Davis as appeared in 22 games while catching 66 passes for 1,028 yards and six touchdowns. The former No. 5 overall pick from the 2017 NFL Draft has failed to live up to expectations since entering the league but could serve as a good depth piece in the right offense.

A second consecutive injury-riddled season with the Jets left Davis with only 32 receptions, 536 yards and two touchdowns on the season. He got off to a nice start recording at least 70 receiving yards in three of his first four games, but he would then tail off and miss the next several weeks with an MCL sprain. Once he returned, he gained more than 45 yards in only one of his next five games. He suffered a concussion late in the season which kept him out for another game and made this even more of a lost season for him. Davis has one year left on his contract where he is owed $10.5 million. The Jets have a potential out on that contract and the soon-to-be 28-year old may or may not be in the Jets’ plans moving forward. With young receivers vying for spots, we could see Davis elsewhere in 2023.

Beset by injury and awful quarterback play, Davis’ 45 yards were his second most since Week 6. Of course, nearly all of his “production” came in garbage time. Week 18 will be a plus scoring environment against the Dolphins, but Davis won’t be someone we are trying to jam into DFS lineups.

One of Davis’s missed connections was a third down drop in the second half. Brutal, though Davis never had a chance to post a useful fantasy effort with Zach Wilson stinking up the joint before giving way to Taysom Hill-type gadget man Chris Streveler. Wilson’s floor will increase a bit for Week 16 if Mike White (ribs) is able to return against the Seahawks, but it’s safe to say fantasy managers in 12-team leagues will need to do better for finals week.