Denzel Mims will be changing teams this offseason. The New York Jets plan to waive the former second-round wide receiver if they can’t find a trade partner, as first reported by the New York Post and confirmed by Pro Football Network. Where are Mims’ best potential landing spots around the NFL?
Top Landing Spots for Denzel Mims
Because he hasn’t accrued four NFL seasons, Mims won’t immediately become an unrestricted free agent if the Jets end up cutting him. Instead, he’ll hit the waiver wire, where all 32 of the league’s teams will have the opportunity to claim him and assume the final season of his contract ($1.35 million).
Mims asked for a trade in 2022, but that request was never honored. The 25-year-old played just 270 snaps last season and has totaled only 42 receptions for 676 yards and no touchdowns over three years in New York.
Still, Mims’ draft pedigree almost ensures he will receive a second NFL opportunity. His size-speed combination (6’3″, 210 pounds, 4.38 40-yard dash) won’t hurt, either. Let’s run through the top destinations for Mims, beginning with the defending NFC champions.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have been interested in Mims dating back to the 2020 NFL Draft, when the then-Baylor wideout indicated that Philadelphia had expressed more pre-draft interest than any other team. While the Eagles bypassed Mims in that draft (instead infamously selecting Jalen Reagor one pick before Justin Jefferson came off the board), general manager Howie Roseman is still in charge in Philadelphia.
A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith will absorb as many snaps as they can handle next season, but the Eagles could use more depth on the outside. Philadelphia only had four wide receivers catch a pass in 2022 — they’re unlikely to remain as healthy next year, and Mims could help fill in if injuries strike. Mims is also a strong blocker who could conceivably take over the dirty work that Zach Pascal handled in the Eagles’ run game last season.
Detroit Lions
While the Lions have Pro Bowler Amon-Ra St. Brown in the slot, they’ll be without Jameson Williams for six games following his gambling ban. Marvin Jones Jr. and Josh Reynolds are the next receivers up on the depth chart, and Detroit will have to rely on one of those veterans in three-WR sets, even when Williams returns from suspension.
Mims would give the Lions another option on the outside, and wunderkind offensive coordinator Ben Johnson might be able to get the best out of him. Detroit passed on pursuing DeAndre Hopkins or other WR upgrades this offseason, but Mims could represent a cost-effective solution to a temporary problem.
Cincinnati Bengals
Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd comprise one of the NFL’s best trios, and the Bengals also drafted fourth-rounder Charlie Jones as Boyd’s long-term replacement in the slot. However, Cincinnati could still afford to add more bodies on the outside, especially given that Chase and Higgins both missed time in 2022.
The Bengals were thought to be considering Mims at the top of the second round in the 2020 draft, but they ultimately went with Higgins. While Cincinnati is unlikely to give up any sort of asset for Mims, they could be interested if he falls far enough down the waiver wire (the Bengals are 29th).
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams aren’t necessarily expected to contend next season, but Mims is the type of young player that Los Angeles’ front office could reasonably take a chance on. Mims worked under new Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur in New York. Clearly, Mims didn’t thrive in LaFleur’s scheme, but he’d already be familiar with Los Angeles’ offense.
L.A. is sixth in the waiver priority, so Mims wouldn’t have to drop far to reach the Rams. He’d vie for playing time behind Cooper Kupp and Van Jefferson, competing with a cast of characters that includes Ben Skowronek, Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell, and fifth-round rookie Puka Nacua.