Finishing his third training camp as a Jet, Corey Davis is not planning to go into another regular season with the team. The former top-five pick informed the Jets he plans to leave the game. Davis announced his intentions via Instagram. The Jets have since placed Davis on the reserve/retired list.
Davis, 28, had resided as a potential cut candidate for months. A summer report indicated a potential pay cut was coming. After it looked like the Jets would instead carry his $11.17MM salary on their roster, a more surprising conclusion will transpire for the veteran wide receiver.
“For some time now I’ve been contemplating stepping away from the sport of football,” Davis said. “This decision has not been easy. Although I am a deep person, I am a man of few words. I’ve been searching my heart for what to do and I feel that stepping away from the game is the best path for me at this time. I have more blessings than I could have ever imagined — I have an amazing family, a beautiful wife and two healthy children that I look forward to spending more time with.
“I am truly grateful for all the opportunities I have had and will continue to have on my journey. Thank you to my family and friends and the Jets organization for supporting me through this process.”
This decision may not necessarily be a retirement, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicating Davis will not be with the Jets to begin the season. But the Western Michigan alum’s statement does not point to a near-future return. Robert Saleh said the door is open for Davis to rejoin the Jets, and SNY’s Connor Hughes notes the receiver informed teammates of his decision Tuesday (Twitter links). The Jets’ website is calling this a retirement. Davis had informed certain teammates he was considering retirement before camp, ESPN’s Rich Cimini tweets.
After four seasons with the Titans, Davis joined the Jets on a three-year, $37.5MM deal in 2021. While he totaled 1,028 receiving yards and six touchdowns as a Jet, injuries have impacted the 6-foot-3 wideout’s New York stay. Davis missed 12 games during his first two Jets campaigns, and the team made several updates to its receiver room this offseason. As they zeroed in on Aaron Rodgers, the Jets signed Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman. After completing the trade, the Jets added Randall Cobb.
These moves — and the team’s Odell Beckham Jr. pursuit — invited speculation on Davis’ status, with the team being able to save $10.5MM in cap space by cutting him. But both Saleh and Joe Douglas praised Davis and insisted he remained in the team’s plans. The prospect of a pay cut never led to one — at least, it hadn’t yet — and Davis was set to play a backup role on this year’s Rodgers-led squad. After two seasons on Zach Wilson-centered Jet teams, Davis is out of the picture now.
The first wideout chosen in 2017, Davis enjoyed an inconsistent Titans tenure. But he did make key contributions for two playoff-bound Tennessee teams to close out his rookie contract. Davis’ 984 receiving yards helped the 2020 Titans win the AFC South. This showing came two years after Davis totaled 891 yards for Mike Vrabel‘s first Tennessee team. The Titans let Davis and A.J. Brown go in consecutive offseasons, trading the latter last year.
Lazard and Hardman are expected to start alongside 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson for Rodgers’ first Jets team. Cobb operating as a WR4 would make sense, but given the Jets’ aggressiveness at the skill positions this offseason, it would not surprise to see them pursue an upgrade — potentially via trade — in light of the Davis news.
I didn’t expect that because he was going to make the team, but maybe this is the right decision for him. I think this basically locks Jason Brownlee on the roster. Xavier Gipson has a chance due to his return abilities, but he’ll probably go to the practice squad.
I’ll bet he was going to get cut or asked for a paycut.
Brownlee has been good and Davis isn’t worth it when his Base is non-guaranteed.
Oh man, hope he’s alright physically and mentally, that’s a real surprise
Davis was probably the best option as a jump ball receiver on the roster. Lazard is bigger, but less athletic, than Davis. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Jets add another receiver to fill that spot, if they feel that they need a little more than their bottom of the chart guys. Their receivers feel okay right now, but I think that it’d be good to add a more proven option, which is admittedly pretty difficult at this stage in the offseason.
Is there any position where the Jets are talent-rich enough to trade for a receiver? There may be a team with too many talented wideouts to keep them all, but complementary weaknesses.
The Jets receiver room still looks pretty good for now.
I understand emotional crisis but I have to think Corey Davis will regret passing up playing one more year of football for $11.6 million. That’s a lot of motivation for eight months of training and play. On the other hand, Davis has taken in about $50 million to date playing football, so he’s done just fine in life without our advice.
I don’t think that the Jets are bad at the receiver spot, I just think that they could improve. I don’t think that they can at this point in the year, and I don’t think that they should trade to do so. If they did insist on a trade, the obvious need would be at tackle. I do think that it’s likely that they’ll sign a low cost veteran to try and snag a bargain at WR if they decide that they need to replace Davis.
In the next offseason I could see them making a move, depending on how these receivers play. Right now, I think that they really need a tackle more than anything.
Elijah Moore would still look good in a Jets uniform
He’s a me-first diva. Hard pass.
Perfect for Fraudgers
Hope the young man is ok.
Well, there goes the Jets Super Bowl chances (fans will be looking for any excuse by week 6).
Who?
How can you call the man a “diva”? I have more respect for a man like this who will walk away from $11.6M this season than to just simply play it out and collect a big check. Much respect to you Corey. I hope you enjoy your retirement, and if you choose to come back and play again, I’ll be rooting for you. Enjoy your fam!
He called Moore a diva I believe, not Davis.
bad juju
there are some quotes on twitter that i hope aren’t actually from Corey
Davis has been stepping away from footballs for years. Probably part of the reason his catch totals have always been so awful. Ya gotta go get the football, Cory. Maybe if he ever tries to come back, it’s a strategy he will employ.
next week on hard knocks….
When are these football writers going to attribute these “farewell speeches and excuses for being arrested to the people that actually write them: THEIR AGENTS.
Most of these guys couldn’t even attempt to write this stuff in a coherent manner.
Most of them couldn’t spell “cat” of you spotted them the “c” and the “a”. The majority of them majored in football.
So tired of these write-ups depicting football players as smart enough to write these excuses and retirement announcements themselves.
Don’t get me wrong, there exceptions to this rule…but not that many.
Just start the story with: “in prepared statement written by his agent”…..
Maybe you should have hired one to write whatever the hell you just spewed