NFL Rumors: The perfect Jets WR trade target is now being shopped, and…
According to Connor Hughes of SNY on Wednesday, Denzel Mims has finally received his wish as the New York Jets have traded the displeased wide receiver to the Detroit Lions.
The terms of the agreement were revealed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport:
A conditional sixth rounder, #Jets 2025’s seventh rounder This URL is: https://t.co/VirCb4WguP
Before the 2018 season began, Mims’ agent, Ron Slavin, released a statement in which he stated that his client requested a trade from the Jets because “it is evident he does not have a future” with the team.
Declaration from Ron Slavin, agent #Jets WR Denzel Mims, requesting a trade or release in exchange for the second-round pick in 2020. In 20 career games, Mims has made 31 catches on 67 targets.Â
The Jets would release Mims if they couldn’t find a trade partner, according to a report published on Wednesday by Brian Costello of the New York Post. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, teams were in communication with the Jets regarding Mims.
After graduating from Baylor in 2020, Mims had high expectations, and the Lions ended up being the team that most wanted him. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com ranked him as the 45th overall prospect in the draft class.
Jeremiah noted in his scouting report, “Mims is a tall, rangy wideout with exceptional burst and body control.” He is particularly good at taking vertical routes down the field, using his burst and quickness to elude press coverage. He wins several 50/50 balls and tracks the ball instinctively. It will take him some time to become a fully functional route runner.”
The Jets selected Mims with the 59th overall pick. Due to a hamstring injury, he was sidelined for the first part of his rookie campaign. Despite this, he finished the campaign with 357 yards on 23 receptions in nine games (eight starts).
Following Robert Saleh’s appointment as head coach in January 2021, the Jets front office has taken a number of bold steps to improve their receiving group. They selected Elijah Moore in the second round of last year’s draft and inked Corey Davis to a three-year, $37.5 million contract.
Garrett Wilson, an Ohio State wide receiver, was acquired by the Jets with their second first-round selection among their three in 2022.
After Mims’ trade request was made public on August 25, Saleh told reporters, “When you have a guys like Corey [Davis] and Elijah [Moore] and you draft Garrett Wilson, those guys are just going to get first dibs.” It’s not directed at [Mims]. He is a member of an excellent group. I believe you can see the frustration because of this.
Since Allen Lazard was signed as a free agent, Mims was probably going to be the odd man out in the receiver room even after Moore was traded to the Cleveland Browns in March.
Throughout the 2021 season, Mims saw numerous benchings and was involved in fewer than half of the offensive snaps in seven of his 11 games. During the season, he caught eight passes for a total of 133 yards on 23 targets.
This season, Mims was not used by the Jets until Week 7 versus the Denver Broncos. He managed just one four-yard catch. With 10 appearances and 11 receptions for 186 yards, the former Baylor player concluded the season.
Mims would be better off at this early point in his career with a change of scenery. With two seasons left on his rookie contract, the Texas native hasn’t exactly left his mark on the league thus far.
He now plays for the Lions, who will have a shortage of wide receivers to start the season due to Jameson Williams’ six-game suspension for breaking the gambling policy of the league. Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond, Marvin Jones Jr., and Amon-Ra St. Brown are among the other top targets in the wide receiver room.
