The New York Jets had plans to release former second-round pick Denzel Mims if the team failed to find a trade partner, according to the New York Post Wednesday. Multiple reports indicated the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers were among the teams interested in Mims, but instead the wide receiver is off to the Motor City.
On Wednesday evening, CBS Sports NFL Insider Josina Anderson reported that Mims being traded to the Detroit Lions was "pretty much done," and that the wideout was open to the change of scenery. Not long after, SNY reported that Mims was indeed being dealt to Detroit. As for the compensation, the Lions are sending a conditional sixth-round pick to New York for Mims and a seventh-round pick in 2025. The Jets and Lions announced the deal Thursday.
"I appreciate Denzel. We wish him luck," Jets coach Robert Saleh said Thursday, via ProFootballTalk. "He's big, long, strong and fast. He'll have an opportunity to play for another team and show why everyone's so excited about him."
The additions of Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and Mecole Hardman this offseason left the New York receiver room a little crowded. It was thought there could be a notable odd man out, and that man was Mims.
Mims was selected 59th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Baylor, and the 25-year-old struggled to break out while catching passes from Zach Wilson, the team's No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Mims has totaled 676 receiving yards and no touchdowns with 42 receptions on 92 targets in three seasons. His best season came prior to Wilson's arrival when Mims had 357 receiving yards on 23 catches. He's missed 20 career games while battling with injuries throughout his career suffering hamstring maladies, hand injuries, a concussion and placement on the COVID-19 list.
Mims joins a Lions receiving corps that includes Jameson Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Marvin Jones Jr., Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond. However, Williams has been suspended for the first six games of the 2023 regular season for violating the NFL's gambling policy.
Mims joins 2021 second-round pick wide receiver Elijah Moore (34th overall selection) as Jets wideouts who were traded this offseason. New York dealt Moore and a 2023 third-round pick (74th overall) to the Cleveland Browns for a 2023 second-round pick (42nd overall) after their receiver additions.
Trade grades
Jets: B+
Would it have been nice to unlock some of Mims' remaining potential, considering the former second-rounder is still just 25? Sure. But that was never going to happen under this regime, which repeatedly declined to involve the wideout the last two seasons. With Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman and Randall Cobb joining this offseason, he would've had to fight tooth and nail just to make the bottom of the depth chart. So, frankly, getting anything in return is a mild victory.
Lions: B-
Odds are, if Mims truly couldn't make any headway on the Jets offense the last two years, he's not going to prove to be some kind of underutilized steal in Detroit. But swapping late-round picks is hardly a big gamble, and the Lions could use some added depth and upside at a position where Jameson Williams will open 2023 on suspension and guys like Marvin Jones and Josh Reynolds are better utilized as secondary players anyway. It's a classic low-risk, medium-reward move.
