JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Michael from Orange Park, FL

Better late than never. Good riddance. But why now?

We'll assume you're referencing the Jaguars on Wednesday morning releasing veteran wide receiver Gabe Davis – a move that surprised many observers considering the salary-cap ramifications involved. Davis, who signed with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent from the Buffalo Bills in the 2024 offseason, was released with what the league calls a "June 1" designation. That means he will count $5.7 million in "dead money" against the cap in 2025 and $14.6 million in 2026 as opposed to $20.3 million in 2025 had they released him without the designation. Why now? First: Davis was unproductive in nine starts last season, catching 20 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns. Second: He sustained a serious knee injury midway through last season and finished the season on injured reserve. Third and perhaps most significantly to this discussion: The Jaguars changed regimes this offseason. Different regimes have different tastes in free-agency signings. This was a chance for the new regime to move on from a player signed by the last regime. Sometimes it's time to move on and the Jaguars decided that time was now with Davis.

Fred from Naples, FL

I was surprised to read that the Jags released wide receiver Gabe Davis. I thought the salary-cap implications of doing so would prohibit that. He played hurt a lot last year and I believe that impacted his performance. Obviously, the Jags felt differently.

A $20.3 million salary-cap hit for a player not to be on the roster normally would prohibit a team from releasing said player. There are other times when a team wants to make the move enough to absorb the hit – and when that's the case, a team really wants to make the move.

Lawrence from Blair, NE

I always went with okie dokie.

Fine.

Steven from Ponte Vedra

I see Gabe Davis has been released. I'm not saying I agree or disagree necessarily, but I am curious as to what the long- and short-term salary cap ramifications are?

The short-term ramification is that the Jaguars take a $5.7 million dead-cap hit in 2025. The medium-term ramification is that they take a $14.6 million hit in 2026. The long-term ramification is that he's "off the books" in 2027.

Howard from Homestead

Is it a coincidence that Gene Frenette retired from journalism right before the conclave of Cardinals at the Vatican to select the next pope? If Gene is selected, what papal name would you suggest?

I can neither confirm nor deny that former longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnist and Northeast Florida cultural icon/thought leader Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette's retirement was influenced by said conclave. Suggested papal name: Fabian, because I considered Pontian and Sisinnius but just thought Fabian "felt right" for Gene.

Mason from Palm Bay, FL

Zone, I don't think I've seen anyone ask, but do you think the Jags are looking to extend Travon Walker before this upcoming season? I know we exercised his fifth-year option, but we did the same with quarterback Trevor Lawrence and still gave him a second contract before entering his fourth season.

Quarterbacks are sometimes treated different from other players when it comes to long-term contracts. The current regime likes defensive end Travon Walker very much, which was why the regime exercised Walker's fifth-year for 2026 this offseason. It's also very common practice for a new regime to wait an appropriate time before renegotiating a salary-cap defining long-term deal for players they like. The fifth-year option gives both sides time in this case.

Limo Bob from Neptune Beach, FL

Why release Gabe Davis? Do we still pay him? Could he not a least been our five or six receiver?

The Jaguars already paid Davis $24 million -- $11 million in signing bonus and $13 million for his 2024 salary. They won't pay him anymore after that. Could Davis have been the fifth or sixth receiver next season? Sure. The Jaguars determined they didn't want that to be the case.

Armand from Jacksonville

Have we signed any of our rookie class and if so, who?

Not as of early Thursday morning.

Hilarious from Funnytown

Maybe hailing a kid with a vocabulary as a savant says more about the audience than it does the kid with the vocabulary.

I'm not quiiiiite smart enough to know for certain, but you maybe sorta kinda are trying to say because some people are impressed with how Jaguars James Gladstone communicates that maybe those impressed people aren't particularly smart. And you also maybe are kinda sorta trying to say that maybe sorta kinda yours truly is among those not-to-smart people. This is absolutely possible. It also missed the big-picture point, which is this: NFL general managing depends on quality communication. I don't know if this is more or less true in NFL general managing than other professions, but I know it matters in NFL general managing. I also know NFL general managing is about making quality decisions based on the thoughts and analysis of many people. Gladstone from this view has the ability to put a system in place to process those thoughts and that analysis. Time will tell what effect that ability has on the Jaguars' performance on the field – and that performance on the field is obviously how he will be judged. But his ability in those areas gives the Jaguars a very good chance to be successful, and his ability in those areas absolutely is important when discussing him as a general manager.

Brendan from Lost, Space-Time Continuum

No question today, Merry Christmas and good riddance. Eat that dead money up, gobble gobble! yesssiir!

We have talked a lot here in the O-Zone in recent months – and longer than that, actually – about the importance of being nice. It would be nice if we remembered that in times such as these.

Don from Marshall, NC

The Jaguars Gabe Davis too much! Go Jaguars!

When it comes to doing whatever it was he was trying to do here, Don remains "all in."

Mike from Atlanta, GA

I said it before, I'll say it again, that Gabe Davis contract was egregious. With the Buffalo Bills he would disappear for long stretches of the season. I'm guessing when evaluating players the new staff put on the tape from last year and saw someone taking plays off and not preparing for the games. Whether I am right or wrong about the effort, I think this is addition by subtraction. I think on this team he would have been at best the fifth receiver. Do you see them bringing in a veteran after roster cutdown or just letting the current picks and the UDFA's fill in the last one-to-two receiver spots?

The Jaguars clearly believe this move was addition by subtraction. I expect the Jaguars will decide on whether to sign a veteran after roster cutdown once they see how the current draft selection/collegiate free agents competing for the last one-to-two receiver sports perform in training camp and preseason. I also expect the Jaguars will be open to signing a wide receiver if one they believe will improve the roster is available.

Stuart from Cottonwood AZ

Gabe Davis. Nice kid. When I saw the $21 million cap hit avoided, I thought, "Ohhh."

The Jaguars didn't as much avoid Davis' cap hit as they adjusted it and delayed part of it. But OK.

Keith from Saint Augustine, FL

I guess Gabe Davis wasn't intangibly rich and didn't contribute to a good ecosystem.

Fair.

Andrew from the 904

Everybody's wondering how Travis Hunter is going to be used on offense/defense and I had a thought that I haven't seen brought up. Would it make sense to use him differently based on matchups? For example, if the team we're playing one week has an elite receiver, he could spend that game mostly on defense shadowing that receiver. And if the team we're playing has an elite cornerback/secondary, he can play more on offense to try to create more favorable matchups. Or would it be better for him to focus on mastering one position and use him more sparingly at the other?

I expect the Jaguars to adjust how they use Hunter a bit early based on situations, and I expect them to be able to adjust more as Hunter adjusts to the NFL. This is unprecedented and Hunter is a rookie. This means he's still a young player. There's likely to be some significant adjusting at times.

Bruce from Saint Simons Island

O, Perhaps this is a "dead zone" response, but while I like the travis Hunter "THE" moniker, Ohio State has secured a trademark for the word "THE". If THE has a similar success outcome to "THE Ohio State," then the Jags will have a great year! What do you say?

Perhaps we should lean toward The T.H.E. Because this is the day the Jaguars will surely change.