Jets plan to waive Denzel Mims if they can’t find last-minute trade
As the Jets prepare to begin training camp, they are getting rid of one of their former top draft picks.
Fourth-year wide receiver Denzel Mims was informed the Jets are going to release him if they are unable to find a trade partner, according to sources.
The Jets excused Mims from reporting for camp with the rest of the team on Wednesday, though they did not release him as they continued to pursue trade talks with a few teams.
If they Jets are unable to agree on a trade, they will waive Mims, and he then may be claimed by another team.
Teams interested in Mims could be enticed to trade for him if they believe a team in front of them in the waiver order will claim him.
Mims, a 2020 second-round pick, was drafted by the previous coaching staff and could never win the trust of head coach Robert Saleh or his staff.
He finishes his time with the Jets having played in 30 games with 42 receptions for 676 yards and no touchdowns.
The Jets and Mims have been heading for a divorce for two years, and it finally happened as the team prepares to open training camp.
Players reported on Wednesday, with their first practice coming Thursday.
Mims was selected with the 59th overall pick in 2020 out of Baylor.
The Jets were wowed by the speed of the 6-foot-3 Mims, who ran a blazing 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine.
After dealing with hamstring injuries early in his rookie season, Mims showed some potential under former head coach Adam Gase.
He had 23 catches for 357 yards in nine games.
Gase was fired after 2020 and Saleh took over, along with Mike LaFleur as offensive coordinator.
Mims got off to a rocky start with the new coaching staff after he had food poisoning in the spring.
He plummeted down the depth chart and seemed unable to win them over.
He was inactive for two of the first three games, then had a small role in the offense when he did play.
The Jets always seemed to want Mims to play special teams, something he resisted.
The team cited Mims’ inability to play special teams as a reason when he did not play.
He ended up playing in 11 games in 2021 with just eight catches for 133 yards.
Mims’ frustration with the team boiled over last August when he requested a trade.
The Jets did not grant his request.
Days later, Mims had his best day as a Jet, in a preseason game against the Giants, with seven catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.
The preseason success did not mean much, though.
Mims again was relegated to backup duty for most of the 2022 season and wound up with 11 catches for 186 yards.
Though LaFleur was replaced by Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator, things did not improve during this offseason.
In the spring, Mims left Florham Park after a few organized team activities because he was unhappy with how he was being used in practice.
That led the Jets and Mims’ camp to discuss parting ways again, something that finally happened Wednesday.
