Joe B article - Elijah Moore, Curtis Samuel, Gabe Davis

[dave mcbride]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6799104/2025/11/12/bills-offense-josh-allen-gabe-davis-wide-receiver/

 

Joe B has observations on the entire receiving corps, but here are his takes on Moore, Samuel, and Davis.

 

Elijah Moore vs. Curtis Samuel:

 

'The player I think deserves some more run, based on what the film shows, is Elijah Moore. He’s the smallest receiver on their roster, but as a route runner, separator and someone who can eat up space in a hurry because of his speed, he’s the fastest option. Moore runs his routes hard and gets in and out of his breaks quickly. You can see defenders giving him a bit more cushion because of those routes, too. His speed, even for a clearout route, can help more than Curtis Samuel, who has been used in that function quite a bit.

 

Samuel gave the Bills some good snaps near the end of the season, but that same player just has not been there in 2025 despite being fully healthy. Inconsistency has followed his Bills career, and it’s gotten even worse this season. Over his five active games, Samuel has run a total of 73 routes, according to TruMedia and Pro Football Focus. He’s been targeted only six times. For wide receivers in 2025 who have run at least 50 routes, Samuel’s 8.2 percent target rate ranks 138th out of 144 qualifying players. He’s run mostly empty-calorie routes this season and has drawn little attention from defenders. He doesn’t provide the same cushion or verticality as Moore. Plus, Samuel’s routes don’t have the same precision as others on the team. Samuel’s lone target against the Dolphins came on a scramble drill when he just stopped and stood where he was while Allen bought more time for someone to get open. Taking Samuel’s snaps and putting them in the hands of receivers who can better threaten a defense can help maximize Allen’s opportunities.'

 

Gabe Davis:

 

'As of late last week, the Bills had gone through almost two full weeks of practice with Gabe Davis, who is still somehow only 26 years old. ... So, in his five other practices, how has he looked after almost a yearlong layoff from football? And how close has he looked to the player he was during his first stint with the Bills?

 

The Bills have some long-tenured defensive backs who have seen all of his Buffalo career, and The Athletic caught up with them about Davis on Friday, ahead of the Dolphins game. Each of them said many of the same things, most notably that Davis is already making an impact on the field despite his limited practice time.

 

“Once he got on the practice field that first day, he was making some insane catches. Like jumping up in the air, going to get it,” cornerback Tre’Davious White said. “He looked explosive. He looked fast. Catching great balls, great catch radius. He’s up there in the air getting the ball. He could definitely help us. He can help this team.”

 

“I feel like he’s close to the Gabe that you guys remember before he left,” defensive back Cam Lewis said. “He’s going out there and just being himself. The same player, the same Gabe that you remember, is what we’ve seen so far.”

 

Nickel corner Taron Johnson echoed those sentiments in practice as well, including that when Davis gets to play, he’s going to help the team tremendously. And again, this was all said before the Bills struggled to move the ball through the air in Miami.

 

“I feel like it’s a boost for our offense. … Just another attention grabber for defense,” Lewis said. “Who (defenses) need to pay attention to, keep a roof over. And when you do that, you expose a lot of other areas in your defense.”

 

“I mean, he’s got so much talent. But when you mix the talent with a guy that works extremely hard at what he does, the results are going to show,” White added. “I know what type of player he is. I played with him for three, four, five years, so I just know what he brings to the table. And then Josh trusts him, too. He knows the offense. They have a great relationship off the field, so that always helps.”

 

“I feel like that vertical threat is something that Gabe will help us a lot, too,” Lewis said. “I think he can help us in a lot of different ways. Whenever he gets that green light, I know he’s going to make a lot of plays for our football team.”

 

Trust from Allen and verticality — two things the Bills desperately need from their receivers group — are key reasons Davis could be up and active, possibly as soon as against the Buccaneers this weekend.'

[dorquemada]

We could have prime Tyreek Hill and if the Offensive scheme eschews the forward pass it wouldn't matter

 

Brady's got to go.

[The Cincinnati Kid]

What sucks is if/when Gabe move to the Active Roster, it will likely be Shavers who is released. Hopefully back to the PS, but who knows. Coleman will be inactive on game days, but he isn’t getting released.

And I agree on more Moore.

[GunnerBill]

9 minutes ago, dorquemada said:

We could have prime Tyreek Hill and if the Offensive scheme eschews the forward pass it wouldn't matter

 

Brady's got to go.

 

But it doesn't. There are deep routes, there are patterns and plays designed to go down the field. Guys are not getting open, Josh is being a bit tentative in attacking tight windows and it is resulting in a lot of check downs on plays designed to go downfield. Brady's offense in Carolina attacked down the field plenty. They were 9th in the NFL in explosive pass rate in 2020 with Teddy Two Gloves at Quarterback. The plays are there in the design. They are not being made primarily because the receivers can't get open. 

Edited 2 hours ago by GunnerBill

[dorquemada]

Just now, GunnerBill said:

 

But it doesn't. There are deep routes, there are patterns and plays designed to go down the field. Guys are not getting open, Josh is being a bit tentative in attacking tight windows and it is resulting in a lot of check downs on plays designed to go downfield. Brady's offense in Carolina attacked down the field plenty. They were 9th in the NFL in explosive pass plays in 2020 with Teddy Two Gloves at Quarterback. The plays are there in the design. They are not being made primarily because the receivers can't get open. 

 

meh.  I see jet sweeps and bubble screens as the main non-Cook vehicles in this offense, particularly at critical times.  

[GunnerBill]

1 minute ago, dorquemada said:

 

meh.  I see jet sweeps and bubble screens as the main non-Cook vehicles in this offense, particularly at critical times.  

 

That is necessity because the downfield plays aren't working. They are trying to find ways to get the ball in the hands of their smaller shifty playmakers - Samuel, Moore, Shakir in space with a chance for YAC because they can't get them open down the field. 

[djp14150]

I’ve believed Gabe Davis would be a worthwhile signing when activated from the PS. He got injured last year so you still had recovery issues 

 

I agree Moore hasn’t been used as that deep threat/ field stretch and they seem to only use him for end run plays.

 

samuel has been non- exustant. Unsure how much the injury he had factors into that.

 

i would use more of Zcook as a slot/ WR and then have another RB in backfield.

[NoName]

12 minutes ago, The Cincinnati Kid said:

What sucks is if/when Gabe move to the Active Roster, it will likely be Shavers who is released. Hopefully back to the PS, but who knows. Coleman will be inactive on game days, but he isn’t getting released.

And I agree on more Moore.

What value does Shavers bring?

[akcash]

I don’t know if the numbers tell the full story with Samuel. I was watching him solely on a few plays and it still looks like he’s got similar burst to what he’s always had. I’d like to see him get more reps in the outside. 

[The Firebaugh Kid]

Moore is a technician. He’s grossly underrated. Trot out Moore Palmer Shakir with Gabe sprinkled in and you have at least an average group. 

Edited 2 hours ago by The Firebaugh Kid

[T.E.]

18 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

But it doesn't. There are deep routes, there are patterns and plays designed to go down the field. Guys are not getting open, Josh is being a bit tentative in attacking tight windows and it is resulting in a lot of check downs on plays designed to go downfield. Brady's offense in Carolina attacked down the field plenty. They were 9th in the NFL in explosive pass rate in 2020 with Teddy Two Gloves at Quarterback. The plays are there in the design. They are not being made primarily because the receivers can't get open. 

Is it just a coincidence that multiple guys who used to be able to get open (Diggs, Knox, Shakir, Samuel, Moore, etc.) under other OCs happen to struggle mightily with Joe Brady in that role?

Edited 1 hour ago by T.E.

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

2 minutes ago, The Firebaugh Kid said:

Moore is a technician. He’s grossly underrated. Trot out Moore Palmer Shakir with Gabe sprinkled in and you have at least an average group. 

Yes that is the group I would go with as well. I doubt we will get it.

[Blackbeard]

 I feel like Davis had some important drops, and that's what led to his *mostly hatred by the fanbase.

 

I always thought Davis was a nice receiver that i'd have loved to hold onto if the price was right a few years back.

 

Actually excited to see him back in the line up.  He's got some talent and that's undeniable.  And he's shown hes clutch.  

[BuffaloBillyG]

40 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6799104/2025/11/12/bills-offense-josh-allen-gabe-davis-wide-receiver/

 

 

 

“I feel like he’s close to the Gabe that you guys remember before he left,” defensive back Cam Lewis said. “He’s going out there and just being himself. The same player, the same Gabe that you remember, is what we’ve seen so far.”

 

 

That...isn't as reassuring as I think he meant it to be....

[The Jokeman]

22 minutes ago, djp14150 said:

I’ve believed Gabe Davis would be a worthwhile signing when activated from the PS. He got injured last year so you still had recovery issues 

 

I agree Moore hasn’t been used as that deep threat/ field stretch and they seem to only use him for end run plays.

 

samuel has been non- exustant. Unsure how much the injury he had factors into that.

 

i would use more of Zcook as a slot/ WR and then have another RB in backfield.

If Davis can work the sidelines and get 10-15 yards consistently for about 5-7 catches per game he'd be a welcome addition to this offense. Yet the year before he left he was not playing his best and clearly was over paid by Jacksonville. 

[The Cincinnati Kid]

24 minutes ago, NoName said:

What value does Shavers bring?

Probably none. This is a “heartstrings” take, I guess.

[djp14150]

7 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

If Davis can work the sidelines and get 10-15 yards consistently for about 5-7 catches per game he'd be a welcome addition to this offense. Yet the year before he left he was not playing his best and clearly was over paid by Jacksonville. 

I agree on being overpaid.  It will depend on how he is used and targeted.

[transient]

Gabe in an "everybody eats" scenario as opposed to Gabe in an "we expect you to be a focal point despite your limitations" scenario, which IMO was part of the problem when he and Diggs were together, could be tremendously helpful to this group/philosophy if he is healthy.

[Yobogoya!]

Davis is an instant upgrade to Coleman on the outside, but people seem to forget just how often he was out of sync with Allen he was on many important pass plays- he was the target on some disastrous interceptions and dropped pass. 

 

22 minutes ago, The Firebaugh Kid said:

Moore is a technician. He’s grossly underrated. Trot out Moore Palmer Shakir with Gabe sprinkled in and you have at least an average group. 

 

There's no "star power" there but you have to feel like there's an adequate passing attack waiting to be schemed out of that bunch.

 

Whether current staff can figure it out is another story. 

[TheyCallMeAndy]

49 minutes ago, The Cincinnati Kid said:

What sucks is if/when Gabe move to the Active Roster, it will likely be Shavers who is released. Hopefully back to the PS, but who knows. Coleman will be inactive on game days, but he isn’t getting released.

And I agree on more Moore.

Honestly I think it's Codrington who gets cut. 

7 minutes ago, transient said:

Gabe in an "everybody eats" scenario as opposed to Gabe in an "we expect you to be a focal point despite your limitations" scenario, which IMO was part of the problem when he and Diggs were together, could be tremendously helpful to this group/philosophy if he is healthy.

100% agree.