Jets may be poised to cut second-round pick Denzel Mims
The Jets want to surround Zach Wilson with quality weapons in his rookie season, but evidently, Denzel Mims doesn’t qualify.
Denzel Mims was a second-round pick by the Jets in 2020 because they believed he could emerge as a big-play threat on the outside. The coaching staff has clearly soured on him in a very short time.
After a series of offseason upgrades at the wide receiver position it’s apparent that Mims may not make it to Week 1 on the Jets’ active roster.
Reports claim that Mims is working with the third-string early in training camp. It’s always possible that’s an attempt by the coaching staff to light a fire under the talented wideout, but it could also be a sign that his spot on the roster is in jeopardy.
Mims’ inability to contribute on special teams could be the difference between him starting the regular season with the team that drafted him or fighting to catch on with another franchise.
It’s fair to wonder whether or not a previously talent-starved team like the Jets can afford to part with a second round pick so quickly. Mims has obvious athletic ability even if he needs a lot of refinement to become a productive professional. He did manage to catch 23 balls for 357 yards in nine games during his rookie campaign. Those aren’t eye-popping statistics but Mims was far from unplayable during his first season.
The Jets’ offseason moves equal trouble for Mims
Drafting Wilson to be the team’s quarterback of the future wasn’t the only transaction New York made to upgrade their offense this offseason. The team added Corey Davis and Keelan Cole in free agency. The front office doubled down by drafting Ole Miss speedster Elijah Moore in Round 2 of the 2021 Draft.
Jamison Crowder remains on the roster and is a strong favorite to soak up the majority of snaps in the slot. Moore should pick up any scraps he leaves on the inside. That leaves Mims battling with Vyncient Smith, Davis, and Cole on the outside. Davis is clearly No. 1 on the team’s depth chart and Mims currently is running behind both Smith and Cole.
None of this means the Jets will be forced to cut Mims. They could find a trade partner if they’re willing to accept a modest amount of draft compensation in exchange for the former second rounder. A conditional fifth-round pick might be the best New York can hope to receive.
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In the end, the odds still favor Mims sticking with the Jets, but the fact that his future is already being discussed so early in training camp isn’t a good sign for his future. The light needs to come on very soon for the enigmatic young wideout.