Denzel Mims finds a new home with the Detroit Lions, while the New York Jets receive something back in the trade
The New York Jets have steadily been dismantling many of their offseason storylines. Add Denzel Mims to that list.
The Jets traded their 2020 second-round pick to the Detroit Lions, as first reported by Connor Hughes. Per Ian Rapoport, the Jets will send Mims and a 2025 seventh-round pick to Detroit for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick. Tom Pelissero reports the condition is Mims must make the Lions’ 53-man roster.
Earlier in the day, reports emerged that the Jets planned to release Mims if they could not trade him. They were able to make a deal happen and get something in return.
The Lions have been searching for receiver depth since 2022 first-rounder Jameson Williams garnered a six-game betting suspension. This is a low-risk move for them, and many around the NFL think it has a high-reward upside.
However, Jets fans who have watched Mims play know that he’s not the same player that he was at Baylor. After flashing promise as a rookie with 23 receptions for 357 yards, Mims has gone backward. He had just 19 catches on 46 targets (41.3% catch rate) for 319 yards over the last two seasons, giving him a measly 0.91 yards per route run.
In that time, Mims had four drops at a 17.4% drop rate (the league average for receivers is 5.5%) and committed six penalties. His ability to catch outside his frame, which was his superpower in college, completely disappeared.
Mims entered Mike LaFleur’s doghouse almost immediately when the Jets hired LaFleur in 2021. Things did not improve with Nathaniel Hackett at the helm, per reports earlier this offseason. After two consecutive coordinators could not find a use for him, the Jets finally decided to grant his trade request from 2022 training camp.
With Mims out of the picture, the Jets’ competition for their WR6 spot is officially open. They currently have many undrafted free agent wide receivers on their 90-man roster, including Irvin Charles, Jerome Kapp, Jason Brownlee, Xavier Gipson, and T.J. Luther. They also have former Packers special teamer Malik Taylor.
