Jets Seeking Denzel Mims Trade Partner

4:47pm: The Mims-Jets saga persists. The team has not waived the fourth-year receiver yet, keeping open the possibility of a trade. The Cowboys previously discussed the Dangerfield, Texas, native with the Jets, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson tweets, noting the talks were exploratory in nature.

11:07am: Another summer of Denzel Mims trade rumors is upon us, but the team does not sound like it intends to keep the former second-round pick if no deal materializes this time around.

The Jets are looking for a trade partner for Mims, per the New York Post’s Brian Costello, who adds the fourth-year receiver will be cut if no trade takes place. This looks to be a last-call announcement from the Jets, with Costello adding they plan to part ways with Mims on Wednesday.

The team excused Mims from reporting to training camp today, providing further indicating a long-rumored separation will take place soon. The 6-foot-3 pass catcher has been in trade rumors since 2021, when buzz about his roster spot began to emerge. Despite the steady rumors about Mims being a departure candidate, the Jets kept him throughout the past two seasons.

Chosen 59th overall in 2020, Mims has not delivered on his draft slot. And the Jets have remade their receiving corps this offseason. New York traded Elijah Moore and released Braxton Berrios, doing so during an offseason that saw Mecole Hardman, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb sign as free agents. Corey Davis remains on the Jets’ roster, but the team is eyeing a pay cut. A Mims departure comes after years of trade rumblings.

Mims, 25, became a trade topic ahead of the 2021 trade deadline and before last season. He requested to be moved in August 2022, and the Jets engaged in more trade talks following that ask. The Cowboys, Panthers, Seahawks and Vikings are believed to have reached out last year, but with the Jets wanting at least a fourth-round pick in return, no deal commenced. Much has changed in Carolina since the then-Matt Rhule-led team called the Jets on Mims as well. It will almost certainly not take a fourth-rounder to acquire Mims today, but if a team lower on the waiver priority list wants to take a flier, the Jets might be able to fetch a late-round pick for the ex-Baylor cog. Some optimism exists this will end in a trade, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets.

During Sam Darnold‘s final season in New York (2020), Mims caught 23 passes for 357 yards. The Zach WilsonMike WhiteJoe Flacco seasons did not lead to an improvement from the young wide receiver, who combined for just 19 receptions over the past two seasons. One season, at a $1.35MM base salary, remains on Mims’ rookie contract. The Jets would pick up that $1.35MM in cap savings by waiving Mims.

While still looking for his first NFL touchdown, Mims totaled 28 while in college during a career that included two 1,000-yard seasons. He followed that up with a 4.38-second 40-yard dash clocking at the 2020 Combine. It seems he will have a chance at a fresh start soon.

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