The New York Jets are going to look a lot different on the offensive side of the ball this season. They have a new offensive coordinator in Nathaniel Hackett, who is replacing Mike LaFleur. Unlike LaFleur, Hackett is going to have an elite quarterback to work with.
The biggest move that the Jets made this offseason was acquiring Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers. He is a huge upgrade on what the team received last season from Zach Wilson, as Mike White moved on in free agency, signing with the Miami Dolphins.
Rodgers isn’t the only new face that will be playing a big part on the offense as New York also revamped their wide receiver depth chart. Gone are Braxton Berrios and Elijah Moore; in are Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman and Randall Cobb.
That trio will be joining the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year winner, wide receiver Garrett Wilson and veteran Corey Davis. That is a very deep and talented top five, which leaves Denzel Mims stuck in limbo.
That is partly why David Kenyon of Bleacher Report named the one move that the Jets still have to make is moving on from Mims. He requested a trade near the end of the preseason in 2022 but remained on the roster for the entirety of the season.
Unless something drastic occurs, such as Davis being released, which the team has said won’t happen, there is no path to playing time for Mims. Even if Davis was released to save money, he would still be, at best, fifth on the team’s depth chart.
A second-round pick out of Baylor in 2020, Mims has yet to really have a chance to showcase his skills in the NFL. He has appeared in 30 games in three seasons with the Jets, catching 42 passes for 676 yards and zero touchdowns.
If there are no plans to use him, general manager Joe Douglas should explore some avenues to move on and see what kind of return he can get. If a team is willing to surrender a Day 3 selection, such as a fifth-round pick, that could be enough to get a deal done.
There are plenty of teams around the league who would be willing to take a shot on a player with the skill set and attributes of Mims. He is a long, athletic burner that has the ability to make some plays downfield, evidenced by the 16.1 yards per reception he has averaged as a pro.
