After being selected by the Jets three years ago, the Denzel Mims era has reportedly come to an end.
The Jets traded Mims and a seventh-round pick to the Lions for a conditional sixth-rounder, according to SNY and NFL Network.
On Wednesday, the Jets excused Mims from reporting to training camp as the team told the wide receiver they would try to trade him. If the Jets couldn’t deal him, they would have simply released Mims, as he would have been placed on waivers for any team to claim him.
When he was drafted by the Jets in 2020, the team had high hopes for him under then-head coach Adam Gase. During his rookie season, Mims caught 23 passes for 357 yards while averaging 15.5 yards per reception.
However, after Gase was fired, Mims never gained footing with Robert Saleh and the Jets new coaching staff. In 2021, Mims lost 20 pounds after he suffered from food poisoning. When Mims saw the field, his playing time decreased as he recorded eight receptions for 133 yards that season.
With him being buried on the Jets depth chart during training camp last year, Mims asked for a trade. His request wasn’t granted as he later started four games for Gang Green due to an injury to Corey Davis and Elijah Moore being deactivated. He finished the 2022 season with 11 catches for 186 yards.
Mims moving on is best for both sides.
He can now join a potent Lions team with a fresh new start in a new city. It was a question whether Mims would even make the Jets’ 53-man roster with all the depth at the receiver position. Not only do the Jets have Garrett Wilson and Davis, but during the offseason, they added Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman and Randall Cobb. These moves were made after the Jets traded Moore and a third-round pick to the Browns in exchange for a second-round pick. Gang Green also released former All-Pro returner Braxton Berrios, who later signed with the Dolphins.
Now it appears the Jets will get something for Mims instead of just releasing him.
