The New York Jets have heard and declined trade offers for Denzel Mims
The New York Jets seem committed to keeping Denzel Mims in a green uniform – even if he’s not going to don one this Sunday.
A report from Mike Garafolo on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football indicates that Jets management has rejected calls to trade the second-year receiver, even as the Baylor alum remains buried on the team’s receiving depth chart.
It has even reached a point where Mims was made inactive for last week’s home opener against New England. Garafolo mentioned in a follow-up tweet that “it sounds like he’ll be down again tomorrow” as the Jets head out west to battle the Denver Broncos (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS).
From @gmfb: #Jets WR Denzel Mims was inactive last week and it sounds like he’ll be down again tomorrow, but the team still believes in his future, to the point they’ve turned away trade inquiries. pic.twitter.com/YOPdOrmsmR
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 25, 2021
Yet, the Jets apparently aren’t willing to part ways with the second-round choice from the 2020 draft.
“You’re seeing a guy that’s got that incredible ability and teams around the league are seeing it,” Garafolo said. “Teams have been calling and calling and calling. They called again this week to the Jets to say, ‘Is Denzel Mims available? You guys aren’t using him.’ They were turned away.”
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Garofolo added, “So much as the Jets coaching staff is being a little hard on Mims right now and they’re not using him, the people in that organization, certainly (general manager) Joe Douglas in the front office still believe in Denzel Mims. They said ‘nope, he’s not available via trade right now.’ We’ll see what comes next in the future, we’ll see tomorrow if he’s even active.”
Mims has been lauded for his big-play potential and has made the most of his limited opportunities. Hamstring issues limited him to nine games in his rookie season but he still put up 357 yards on 23 receptions. Mims partook in only three offensive snaps during the Jets’ opening weekend loss in Carolina but one of those yielded a 40-yard reception that set up a New York touchdown.
The fall of Mims on the depth chart has been attributed to his inability to contribute on special teams and line up at receiver positions, unlike compatriots Jeff Smith and Braxton Berrios. He was made to a healthy scratch against the Patriots upon the return of incoming veteran Keelan Cole.
Head coach Robert Saleh labeled Mims a “game-time decision” on Friday, per notes from the Jets. The head coach was optimistic about Mims’ most recent week of practice as the Jets (0-2) prepared to visit the undefeated Broncos.
“We’ll see how it all works, but I’m pumped for Denzel and the week he’s had,” Saleh said. “He’s growing just like the rest of the team is, so, we’ll see on Sunday.”
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
