The Jacksonville Jaguars made a notable move last week by releasing wide receiver Gabe Davis with a failed physical designation one year into a three-year, $39 million deal former 49ers general manager (and now former Jaguars general manager) Trent Baalke did. Former 49ers guard Jon Feliciano quickly suggested his former team would be a perfect fit for Davis.
On Sunday, news came Davis was flying to San Francisco for a visit. And on Monday, it was further reported Davis is at the 49ers' facility. A workout is surely part of the visit, with a torn meniscus in his left knee shortening his 2024 campaign and the Jaguars' failed physical designation a necessary red flag.
Davis' primary skill set as a deep threat and the 49ers' offense just don't look like a good match, to say nothing of a wide receiver depth chart that isn't in dire straits even with Brandon Aiyuk's injury recovery and Demarcus Robinson's looming suspension. But that depth chart could use a dose of experience if someone fits, and some early-season reinforcement with Aiyuk likely out and Robinson suspended would be nice.
Having Davis in for a visit hints the 49ers are looking for a veteran wide receiver. But they can do better, among who is available and narrowing to who would fit best.
3 veteran wide receivers the 49ers should easily bypass Gabe Davis for
1. Tyler Boyd
After operating as a productive secondary receiver with the Cincinnati Bengals for several years, Boyd landed with the Tennessee Titans as a free agent in 2024. With Will Levis and Mason Rudolph under center, his production took the expected hit with 39 receptions for 390 yards and zero touchdowns over 16 games.
Boyd's peak is behind him at 31 years old, and he was never an overwhelming athletic specimen anyway. But it's fair to assume he can produce better than he did last year if he has something other than sub-optimal quarterback play, and the 49ers' young wide receivers could benefit from his veteran presence.
2. DJ Chark
If the 49ers fancy adding a deep threat, Chark and his career average of 14.4 yards per catch would be a fine alternative to Davis.
Chark never really got on track with the Los Angeles Chargers last season, as a hip injury cost him two months and he had just four catches in seven games. But over the previous two seasons, 2022 with the Detroit Lions and 2023 with the Carolina Panthers, Chark averaged 15.8 yards per catch with eight combined touchdowns. For a stretch of that one season in Detroit, he was in peak form as one of the best big play receivers in the league.
Assuming he's healthy, or soon will be, the 49ers should have Chark on their radar in virtual parallel to their apparent interest in the similarly-skilled Davis.
3. Chris Conley
Conley spent the last two seasons with the 49ers, suiting up for a total of 23 games. While nothing he produced will wow you, he was a solid special teams contributor and a generally well-regarded veteran who would come back in knowing the 49ers' offense.
Such as the 49ers would even make a splashy signing in May, Conley would register a negative on the "oh, that's interesting" scale. But there's nothing wrong with not being very interesting, and he's undeniably a better overall fit than Davis.