Last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly inquired about a trade for Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith, which left more questions than answers. The Steelers already have Pat Freiermuth on a big contract, and Darnell Washington is proving to be the inline 'Y' tight end they hoped for. Though their interest in Smith was met with backlash by some within the fanbase, it makes more sense than their latest hopeful signing.
On Tuesday, ESPN Insider Adam Schefter reported that the Steelers will meet with former Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis on Thursday. Davis was once known for his downfield big-play ability working with quarterback Josh Allen in Buffalo, but the time to buy his proverbial stock has never been lower.
In 2024, Davis was one of the worst wide receivers in the NFL by nearly every metric. The veteran caught just 47.6 percent of his passes with a dismal 40.5 percent success rate as Jacksonville's quarterbacks earned just a 61.5 passer rating when looking in his direction. In terms of raw production, this resulted in just 239 receiving yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions when targeting Davis in 2024.
The disappointing results on the field earned Davis one of the worst PFF grades among all eligible wide receivers during the 2024 season, as he ranked 127th out of 133 qualifying players with a 52.5 overall grade, including a 43.8 run block grade.
The Steelers are clearly eyeing an offensive weapon who can aid the team as a receiver and a blocker—a player who fits the mold of what offensive coordinator Arthur Smith wants to do. But the idea of inking Gabe Davis to a deal makes a potential Jonnu Smith trade actually look justifiable.
Jonnu Smith offers more intrigue to the Pittsburgh Steelers than Gabe Davis
To be clear, I would have a hard time getting behind either of these decisions. The Pittsburgh Steelers need to put the focus on the future and not trade valuable draft capital to add another tight end to the room (and one who's seeking a contract). Likewise, they shouldn't repeat the mistakes of the past by adding a cheap, big-bodied wide receiver coming off a terrible season, only to be forced to play him over a young player like Roman Wilson.
But of the two moves, trading for Smith is more enticing.
Unlike Davis, Smith is coming off the best season of his career and was able to stay healthy all of 2024. Not only was he far more productive than Davis last season, but he was significantly more efficient when targeted, averaging 8.0 yards per target with a 63.1 percent success rate.
READ MORE: Forget Jonnu Smith: Steelers must trade for this first-round talent instead
Davis should come cheap, potentially on a veteran minimum deal, and the fact that he sustained injuries offers hope that he could have a bounce-back season. However, this team has gone from Allen Robinson to Van Jefferson to Mike Williams, and they seem to be infatuated with the idea of adding big wide receivers who are willing blockers but can't separate against cornerbacks.
Gabe Davis isn't my cup of tea, and he's not going to be the future of the wide receiver position for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I wouldn't be a fan of either of these moves, but at least Jonnu Smith was a Pro Bowl player and one of the league's best tight ends in 2024.