The Las Vegas Raiders are focusing on securing a key target to strengthen their offense as quarterback Geno Smith looks for more weapons. While Jakobi Meyers is established as Smith’s primary receiver, the Raiders clearly need more depth at wide receiver to improve their chances in the upcoming season. This necessity has brought Gabe Davis into the conversation as a potential solution to their wide receiver challenges.
With new leadership under head coach Pete Carroll and Geno Smith as quarterback, the Raiders are positioning themselves to compete at a higher level. However, their wide receiver room lacks a true deep threat capable of changing the dynamics of their passing game.
Reasons Behind Targeting Gabe Davis for the Receiving Corps
The dominance of the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes in the AFC West has pressured the Raiders to make bold moves. The division’s competitive environment has been a challenge since Derek Carr’s exit after the 2022 season, leaving the team searching for stability under center. The arrival of Smith and Carroll aims to restore competitiveness, but to fully capitalize on this, the Raiders must add a receiver who can be a consistent, explosive presence alongside Meyers.
Tre Tucker offers some flexibility in the receiver group but does not fill the role of a dependable WR2. This gap led to speculation during training camp about adding Gabe Davis, a player known for his big-play ability.
“Davis would thrive going to a team with a need at wide receiver and a quarterback with a big arm. In the right system, Davis can still be a big play machine. With Geno Smith throwing the ball, we love the potential here,”
— Cory Woodroof, NFL Analyst
This assessment highlights Davis’s fit with the Raiders, given his ability to stretch defenses and create explosive plays downfield—a quality that could complement Geno Smith’s style of play.
What Gabe Davis Offers to the Raiders’ Offense
Gabe Davis’s most productive years came with the Buffalo Bills, where over the 2022 and 2023 seasons he amassed 1,584 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, despite never surpassing 1,000 yards in a single season. Davis’s standout moment was a playoff game in 2021, when he recorded 201 yards and four touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs, showcasing his talent on a big stage.
Davis is known for his ability to stretch the field and make contested catches, a skill set that thrived alongside quarterback Josh Allen. However, his recent career trajectory has been complicated by injuries. His 2023 season ended prematurely after a meniscus injury, and he was subsequently released by the Jacksonville Jaguars following failed physicals.
The uncertainty about Davis’s health remains a focal point as he continues to pursue opportunities in the 2025 offseason. He has worked out for teams like the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants, but no contract has materialized yet. For the Raiders, this could represent a valuable chance to acquire a talented receiver who could fill their pressing wide receiver need.
Implications for the Raiders’ Future and Offensive Strategy
If the Raiders secure Gabe Davis, it could significantly enhance Geno Smith’s target options, providing a deeper threat capable of changing the offensive tempo. Adding Davis would give the offense more versatility and the ability to challenge defenses vertically, which remains crucial against dominant AFC West rivals. As the Raiders aim to close the gap with teams like the Chiefs, addressing the wide receiver room’s limitations is one of their most urgent priorities.
In the coming weeks, close attention will be on Davis’s health evaluations and any potential movement from the Raiders as they explore roster improvements ahead of the season.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Geno Smith an elite QB?
A. Among all quarterbacks from 2022 to 2024, Smith has the top deep PFF rating. This means there’s enough data to have confidence in him for the upcoming season. Geno Smith stands out with a perfect 99.9 deep PFF passing grade over his three years as Seattle’s starter.
Q. Why is Geno Smith called Geno?
A. Smith was given the nickname Geno by his grandfather, who was known as “Big Geno.”
Q. Is Geno Smith an elite quarterback?
A. According to statistics, Smith ranks among the top quarterbacks for long passes over 20 yards. Wasserman highlighted that Smith finished last season with the fourth-best deep passing grade in the league according to PFF.
Q. Is Geno Smith a pocket passer?
A. Smith excels at passing from the pocket. He can accurately throw all types of passes and has the strength to throw the ball far and fast.