Corey Davis lingers as an interesting possible wide receiver option for the Detroit Lions

Rooted in the aquisition of Aaron Rodgers and loading up for an all-in window, the New York Jets added a couple of the former Packers quarterback's old friends (Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb). They also signed wide receiver Mecole Hardman in free agency, further pushing Corey Davis down the pecking order.

With an $11.2 millon cap number for this year, the Jets keeping Davis as what would amount to their fourth wide receiver has felt unlikely all offseason. Add in the easy ability to clear $10.5 million of that, and cutting bait via a trade or an outright cut has felt like a no-brainer.

ESPN's Rich Cimini reported earlier in the offseason that a pay cut from his $10.5 million salary was in order for Davis, or he could be cut. That pay cut has not happened, at least not yet.

Updating things from Tuesday's Jets' practice, Cimini reported Davis is "still" on personal leave.

Davis has apparently also missed time during camp with an illness, and has not stood out when he has practiced.

The reason for Davis' personal leave is just that, personal and not to be made public unless he comes out with it. But in a certain sense he has to feel his tenuous status on the Jets' roster. He has absolutely underachieved over the last two seasons, albeit while trying to corral passes from the lackluster quarterbacks they've trotted out.

Davis has never lived up to his status as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Tennessee Titans out of Western Michigan. Yet with bad quarterbacks and injuries impacting him, he has averaged at least 14 yards per catch in four straight seasons (a career-best 16.8 YPC last year).

The best season of Davis' career came in 2020, with 65 catches for 984 yards and five touchdowns for the Titans. He also had a 65-catch, nearly 900-yard season in 2018, and over 72 percent of his career catches have moved the chains. He fits the template of a big “X” receiver (6-foot-3, 209 pounds) the Lions could still use, and he's a good run blocker.

Corey Davis lingers as an intriguing potential option for the Detroit Lions

Woodward Sports addressed the possibility of Davis to the Lions on Tuesday morning. Safe to say they're on the bandwagon.

With their top four wide receivers locked into a roster spot, the Lions are likely only looking for depth to fill out up to two spots on the 53-man roster going into the season. But to dismiss the idea of adding Davis based on that is foolish.

If he gets cut by the Jets, and it's certainly trending that way, the Lions should be in line to try to sign Davis without hesitation.