Robert Saleh didn’t quote Yogi Berra or ask for an opera singer, but the Jets’ head coach sent a message that his team is not done with Denzel Mims.
One day after Mims’ agent asked the Jets to trade or release his client, the third-year receiver was participating in special teams drills and running routes for the second-team offense during practice Friday. The coach and the disgruntled player had a “really good conversation” before practice.
“I’m not going to say it’s over with him,” Saleh said. “I’m standing by it: He’s had a really good OTAs, he’s done a really good job in training camp. It’s just a matter of him finding his niche. I know that he’s frustrated — as we’ve talked about before — that he’s not where he wants to be, but that doesn’t mean that he can’t get there.”
The Jets have received “a few calls, nothing serious,” general manager Joe Douglas said on WFAN’s “Carton & Roberts.” The Panthers called, according to The Athletic, which makes sense because head coach Matt Rhule coached Mims during his two 1,000-yard seasons at Baylor. The Panthers passed over Mims with a second-round pick during the 2020 NFL Draft.
Since drafting Mims, the Jets have signed Corey Davis in free agency and drafted Elijah Moore and Garrett Wilson to fill their top three receiver spots. Mims has 31 catches for 490 yards in 20 career games.
“Those guys are going to get first dibs,” Saleh said. “It’s not a knock on [Mims]. He’s part of a really good room. That’s why I think you see the frustration where he has a desire to do more — and that’s why I think the events from his agent happened.”
NFL teams must cut the roster from 80 to 53 players by Tuesday. With All-Pro returner Braxton Berrios penciled in as the No. 4 receiver and Jeff Smith also seemingly ahead of Mims, is there really a situation in which Mims will remain on the roster if no trade pans out?
“I don’t think it’s a locker-room distraction,” Saleh said. “This is the business part of it. In my heart, I think if you look at Denzel, it’s not ‘I don’t want to be a part of New York.’ It’s not ‘I don’t like my locker room.’ It’s not ‘I don’t like my teammates’ or ‘I don’t like my coaches.’ It’s ‘I want more,’ which is understandable.”
Trades are all about leverage and the Jets are not going to give an inch to the Panthers — who are still reeling from the draft package surrendered to the Jets for now-backup quarterback Sam Darnold — or anyone else withholding a trade offer under the assumption that Mims will be cut.
“He’s one of our 53 best,” Saleh said, “and we’ve got to find a way to make this work.”
That sounds like posturing. If the Jets deal Mims for a late-round draft pick, it will be seen as a miss on Douglas’ draft record. That could force some GMs to be reluctant to move on.
“You have to take pride out and do what’s best for the team,” Douglas said. “Take yourself out of the equation.”
Douglas is not taking “personally” Mims’ trade request or “desire to be The Guy.”
“I love that chip on his shoulder,” Douglas said. “Not every player’s path is a perfect straight line up.”
If Mims is still on the team Sunday, he is expected to play against the Giants. The Jets will play their starters for most of the first half, so they could take the opportunity to showcase trade bait.
Under contract through 2023, Mims’ salary-cap charge is $1.48 million, but he would cost his next team about $1.1 million in 2022 if he is traded, with the other $377,000 going on the Jets’ tab whether he is cut or dealt.
“You love Denzel’s competitive nature — and he feels like he is one of those best three and he should be on the field and he wants those reps,” Saleh said. “I respect the heck out of it, and I want him to keep fighting for that because you want that competition. The balance is understanding where you are as a football team … and dominate your role until those opportunities come up.”