Gabe Davis could be Chiefs' best answer as Rashee Rice faces NFL ruling

Thursday afternoon's announcement of Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice's sentencing by a Dallas County judge impacts the team's depth at the position. Speculation existed that Rice might avoid a 2025 suspension, but in light of this recent development, it's likely he'll miss significant time this season.

Whether that's four or eight games (or otherwise) is presently unknown, but there are good reasons to wonder if the Chiefs should consider a free agent signing ahead of training camp, which opens on July 21.

The Chiefs could mitigate Rice's pending suspension with a key veteran addition at receiver. Several free agent options remain available, but perhaps one of the more intriguing names in terms of system fit is former Jaguars wideout Gabe Davis.

The Kingdom will remember Davis for his role in the "13 Seconds" game with the Buffalo Bills in 2021. In that matchup, Davis hauled in 8 receptions for 201 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns—including the go-ahead score—that put the Chiefs in such a do-or-die position.

Last season, Davis departed Buffalo and signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. That marriage dissolved just 14 months later, when the Jaguars released Davis in May.

The short-term uncertainty for the receiving corps via Rashee Rice's looming suspension opens the door to a veteran addition, namely Gabe Davis.

The Chiefs may not be in a comfortable enough position to shoulder the suspension of Rice, especially since there's no clear timeline on when commissioner Roger Goodell will issue his ruling. Veteran receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown was re-signed for another season, but his injury history raises questions about his availability in 2025. If a Rice suspension and Brown injury were to overlap, does the team have enough viable pass-catching options to consistently put points on the board? That's an important question for the Chiefs to answer ahead of training camp.

Davis is a logical option to consider given his skill set and experience. As a boundary receiver who can stretch the field, he can backfill some of what the Chiefs previously asked from Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Justin Watson. There's some redundancy in the receiver room with receivers who can play in the slot. Davis would afford them the opportunity to deploy Xavier Worthy in some of the same ways they previously used Rice, some of which we saw last year.

One of Davis' biggest assets is his speed, which allows him to stretch defenses vertically. This offseason, the Chiefs have emphasized their desire to return to a more vertical offense, so this seems like a solid fit to help them accomplish that.

There are some concerns about Davis' health as he was released in Jacksonville with a failed physical designation based on a torn meniscus injury sustained in November 2024. Despite those concerns, there's been some interest in Davis on the open market from the Steelers and Saints, and that could soon expand to a third team with Chargers receiver Mike Williams retiring from the NFL.

The Kansas City Chiefs' front office is never hasty, so I don't expect a quick decision to add reinforcements, but this might be worth monitoring over the next few weeks. The team could add Davis on a one-year deal to provide some insurance in case a Rice suspension falls during a critical part of the team's schedule.