Vikings Division Rivals Make a Trade to Acquire WR Denzel Mims
The New York Jets have been butting heads with a couple of their young receivers over the past few months. 2021 second-round pick Elijah Moore was dealt to the Cleveland Browns earlier this offseason. He was sent to Cleveland along with the 74th overall pick in the 2023 Draft in exchange for the 42nd pick.
Just months later, Denzel Mims, a 2020 second-round pick, has been dealt to a Vikings division rival, the Detroit Lions, as of Wednesday night, according to a report from Connor Hughes of SNY. This comes hours after the New York Jets reportedly informed him he would be released if a trade could not be worked out.
Mims has had a rather underwhelming start to his NFL career given his draft status. Over his first three NFL seasons, he has caught just 42 passes for 676 yards and remains without a touchdown reception in his career.
This is a bit surprising considering just how dominant he was at Baylor during his collegiate career. In two of his three seasons as a starter there, he broke 1000 yards receiving twice and never dipped below 8 receiving TDs. His 12 scores in 2019 ranked second in the Big 12, behind only CeeDee Lamb.
Now, the receiver is hoping to rejuvenate his career in Detroit and help fill in their WR depth after suspensions took out Stanley Berryhill and Quintez Cephus for the season and Jameson Williams for six games after they violated the league’s gambling policy. Berryhill and Cephus were promptly released, but Williams remains on the roster.
Mims enters a WR room that will begin training camp featuring 11 other receivers:
- Amon-Ra St. Brown
- Jameson Williams
- Marvin Jones
- Josh Reynolds
- Kalif Raymond
- Tom Kennedy
- Trinity Benson
- Maurice Alexander
- Antoine Green
- Chase Cota
- Dylan Drummond
The best trait Mims possesses is his speed, running a 4.38 40-yard dash at the combine, and he should be an optimal fit alongside a superb route-runner like St. Brown. Assuming he makes the final roster, the Vikings first crack at playing against him will come in Week 16.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.