Late Wednesday night, the New York Jets agreed to a trade with the Detroit Lions. The Jets sent 2020 second-round pick Denzel Mims and a 2025 seventh-round pick to Detroit. In exchange, the Lions will send a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick to New York.
The trade came about after reports made earlier in the day of Mims’ potential release from the organization. This marked the second time the New York Jets traded away a former second-round pick this offseason, as the organization sent Elijah Moore to Cleveland back in March. Mims made a name for himself at Baylor, finishing his college career with 2,901 yards and 28 touchdowns during his final three seasons. Just like the Moore trade, the deal is mutually beneficial for both teams.
New York Jets, Detroit Lions Both Benefit in Denzel Mims Trade
How the New York Jets benefit
It hasn’t been an easy transition to the NFL for Denzel Mims. A hamstring injury forced him to miss training camp his rookie season as the Jets went 2-14. Now playing under a new offensive staff, Mims failed to see the field frequently in his second year.
With three starts and only eight catches the entire 2021 season, he requested a trade in August 2022. However, he remained in New York during the 2022 season. After adding wide receiver depth during the offseason, Joe Douglas knew he couldn’t keep Mims. Rather than release him for nothing, the Jets managed to get some draft capital in exchange, even if it’s pennies on the dollar. Now New York can ensure there are enough options for Aaron Rodgers between Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, and Corey Davis at wide receiver.
How the Detroit Lions Benefit
Dan Campbell finished the season with Detroit’s first winning record since 2017. The key to the Lions resurgence has been Ben Johnson’s brilliant offensive mind. After a few down years, Jared Goff has started to play up to his first-overall draft status, which we haven’t seen from the veteran quarterback since his Los Angeles days.
Denzel Mims has an opportunity for playing time following the suspension of Jameson Williams. Mims is a phenomenal athlete, and his multiple 1,000-yard seasons at Baylor prove that there is a lot of untapped potential here. If anyone is going to bring out the best in Mims, it is wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El.
While it’s not a 1:1 comparison, the Denzel Mims trade draws some parallels to the D.J. Chark signing from one season ago. Following consecutive underwhelming campaigns, Johnson’s scheme brought out the best in Chark, as the wide receiver finished the season with 502 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 10 games. With Chark now in Carolina, Mims has the chance to step up and replicate this production in 2023. Mims is entering the final year of his contract, which means that if he plays well, he could earn a sizable payday from a new organization. If that happens, the Lions could receive a compensatory pick greater than the one they relinquished to acquire his services in the first place. Ultimately, this is a perfect low-risk, high-reward type move that should pay off in 2022.
Main Photo: Vincent Carchietta – USA Today Sports
