Gabriel Davis
Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
It’s fair to argue that the Minnesota Vikings may have the best wide receiver room across the entire league. That’s only true when the top three pass catchers are all available though. Right now that’s a serious problem.
Jordan Addison is on the shelf for three weeks due to his “wet reckless” charge stemming back to last summer. Justin Jefferson is working his way back at practice and should be fine for Week 1. Unfortunately Jalen Nailor also looks destined to miss some time with an injury.
That recipe adds up to problems for head coach Kevin O’Connell. The less J.J. McCarthy has to work with, the more he has to do on his own. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah needs to bring in wide receiver talent, but the pool is shrinking.
Gabriel Davis eyeing a return to Buffalo
The Vikings wide receiver room has looked thin at times throughout training camp. They lost veteran Rondale Moore for the season, and he was someone they prioritized as a free agent. Short of draft pick Tai Felton, there don’t appear to be any down-depth chart options either. The open market still has names, but Gabriel Davis won’t be one of them for long.
Sources: The #Bills are expected to host WR Gabe Davis on a free-agent visit this week after he meets with the #Steelers today.
Davis had his best years in Buffalo, totaling over 3,200 yards and 35 TDs across four seasons (including playoffs). pic.twitter.com/IVtUMv7WUl
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 19, 2025
Last season Gabriel Davis played with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was active for 10 games and had just 239 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Looking to put the down year, ended by a torn meniscus behind him, he now has a pair of suitors lined up.
The Pittsburgh Steelers brought in Aaron Rodgers this offseason. Although Dianna Russini tried to will him towards the Minnesota Vikings, O’Connell was set with his quarterback. Mike Tomlin gets the leftovers, but Rodgers doesn’t have much to work with in the Steel City.
If Pittsburgh isn’t the destination, and with an opportunity to return to Buffalo on the docket, it seems likely that Davis will come off the board. The Bills used a fourth round pick on Davis in the 2020 draft and he spent the first four years of his career there.
Related: MN Vikings Quietly Dealing with Injury to Key Starter
A level of comfort already established with the organization, and chemistry with quarterback Josh Allen, should make it a smooth re-entry process.
Where does that leave the MN Vikings?
Once Davis comes off the board that takes a potential option away from the Minnesota Vikings. Of course Adofo-Mensah could be working behind the scenes and already crossed him off on his own. However, it has seemed like Minnesota needed a receiver for weeks now. The added injury to Nailor almost necessitates two.
The biggest name still on the open market is 31-year-old Amari Cooper. The former fourth overall pick (2015) was with Cleveland last year prior to being traded to Buffalo. A meeting with Davis and the Bills could suggest that Buffalo isn’t interested in a reunion here. Cooper had 547 yards and four touchdowns across 14 games.
Amari Cooper
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Nelson Agholor, Tyler Boyd, D.J. Chark, Jamison Crowder, and even a reunion with Brandon Powell all remain possibilities as well. It’s unclear if Odell Beckham Jr. would be a fit in Minnesota, but he has worked with Kevin O’Connell previously.
Related: MN Vikings Provide Massive Injury News on Key Wideouts
There’s also the always-looming desire to bring Adam Thielen home. Of course the Carolina Panthers would be wise to force the Vikings into a hometown tax. They also may not be inclined to make that sort of a deal before the season starts.
No matter what Minnesota does, or where they turn, it’s almost impossible for the result to be nothing.
Mentioned in this article: Gabriel Davis More About:Minnesota Vikings