The Denzel Mims Era in Pittsburgh is over before it truly began, as the team cut the former second-round pick on June 18th. A former standout at Baylor, Mims entered the league with incredible physical gifts but not much polish to his game. As of this posting, the wide receiver has yet to realize his potential. Mims’ best season came during his rookie campaign when he recorded 23 receptions for 357 yards and no touchdowns. Unfortunately, he couldn’t build on his inaugural campaign, as he recorded less than 200 receiving yards in each of the next two seasons and didn’t even play a regular season snap in the 2023 season.
At this point in his career, this cut could be the end of the road for Denzel Mims. This list of wide receivers who suddenly put it all together in Year 5 is nonexistent, and it’s clear Pittsburgh doesn’t believe he has anything left in his tank. However, the raw talent is still there, and teams like the Chargers and Chiefs could try to capture lightning in a bottle by adding him to the 90-man roster.
The #Steelers are waiving WR Denzel Mims, source says. Former #Jets second-round pick had been with Pittsburgh since last October on the practice squad. pic.twitter.com/zEhpudGud9
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) June 18, 2024
Chiefs, Chargers Could Sign Recently Cut Denzel Mims
Kansas City’s interest in Mims is directly correlated with what happens to Rashee Rice. The second-year wide receiver is in the midst of a nightmarish offseason and is currently staring down eight criminal charges. This doesn’t include his alleged involvement in a nightclub assault – even though he won’t face charges for anything occurring that night, the NFL’s threshold of guilt is far lower than the United States Justice Department. If Rice has to miss a sizable portion of the season, the Chiefs could sign the recently cut Denzel Mims as some emergency depth.
As things currently stand, Kansas City has four reliable pass catchers in tight end Travis Kelce and wide receivers Marquise Brown, first-round pick Xavier Worthy, and Rice himself. The four are more than enough for a great quarterback like Patrick Mahomes, but each player comes with their own risk. Rice has his inevitable suspension, Kelce isn’t getting any younger, Brown has never played with Mahomes, and Worthy is an untested rookie. Denzel Mims is worse than those four players, but recently cut wideout could compete with Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney, and Justyn Ross for a depth role.
Chargers Dart Throws
Justin Herbert is a great quarterback, but nobody can carry an entire offense on their own. Los Angeles has the worst collection of pass-catching talent in the league, as second-round pick Ladd McConkey is the only player on the roster with reasonable upside. With no sure things on the roster, the Chargers might as well give Denzel Mims a chance and see if he can cut it with a new organization. It shouldn’t be too hard for him to make the roster, as he’ll only need to beat out D.J. Chark and seventh-round picks Cornelius Johnson and Brenden Rice. If he can’t do that, then he’ll probably be on an XFL roster during the spring.
Main Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier – USA Today Sports
