Is there still hope for NY Jets wide receiver Denzel Mims?

It's fair to say that Denzel Mims has not lived up to expectations with the NY Jets, and following two subpar seasons, questions are ringing around the New York fan base asking where it went wrong for the Baylor standout.

The second-round pick was seen as a key asset in helping unlock former quarterback Sam Darnold’s development, but he ended up being little use on that front.

His rookie season was not void of flashes of potential as Mims made some impressive sideline grabs and looked like a threat in the contested catch area.

But almost two years on from the announcement confirming Mims was pick number 59, the zero career receiving touchdowns does not look pretty on his stat sheet. The occasional flashes have not been enough to impress, and have left Jets fans scratching their heads wondering where it all went wrong for Mims.

Mims was given the benefit of doubt after his rookie season. It was frustratingly disrupted by injury and it was not as if he displayed a lack of potential. He appeared promising, but he had not captured the hearts of Jets fans.

Moving forward to his sophomore season in the NFL and his first with a new coaching staff, things turned ugly for the former Baylor star. He struggled to get consistent playing time and slowly the hope of consistent production began to fade.

This sudden slide down the depth chart bemused many fans and speculation over why Mims’ snap count was dropping began to increase and increase. The media and fan base began wondering whether it was an attitude issue or whether his skill set wasn’t admired by the coaching staff.

So, this leads us to the question, where did it all go wrong for Mims, and is there any hope for him to be a positive influence in this offense?

Denzel Mims' struggles with the NY Jets

Reviewing his situation from the outside looking in, the answer ultimately lies with the coaching staff and the scheme that they run.

Mike LaFleur’s Kyle Shanahan-influenced offense requires receivers lower on the depth chart to be versatile players who are able to occupy the positions with ease. This is where Denzel Mims falls short.

He does not have anywhere near the versatility that a receiver such as Elijah Moore has, and this has certainly caused the slide down the depth chart.

At around 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Mims' skill set lies predominantly in his aerial threat ability and with his ability to be a bully in contested catch situations.

These were some of the positives in his draft profile, but he has not been able to showcase any of these talents at the next level, and the coaching staff and front office have certainly picked up on this. He does not have the talent in their eyes to line up outside consistently in their offensive scheme.

If a player does not possess this ability, the coaching staff looks for versatility and use in other areas within the offense, yet, Mims does not seem to be able to perform in these roles either.

It is evident in Braxton Berrios' recent extension that he is a player much more highly valued in this scheme than Denzel Mims. Berrios is not a WR1 or WR2, yet he can be used with results in the slot and in packages where, on occasion, he can occupy the outside.

Mims, however, is not of use to this offense in the slot and does not have the ability to knock Corey Davis and Elijah Moore out of the one and two spots on the depth chart. This is a primary reason why Mims has not been able to see the field as much as the fan base would have hoped.

Is there any hope for Denzel Mims with the NY Jets?

Despite improving on his nine appearances in his rookie year with 11, his snap count was down last season to 279, a drop from 439 in the previous year. In terms of production, Mims' stat line also dropped from his rookie year with just eight receptions for 123 yards and zero touchdowns.

With just eight receptions on 23 targets, New York's QB room had a passer rating of 55.8 when targeting him. It is clear that Mims has not adapted well to the team's new offensive system. This is a clear issue and early suggestions that the relationship between Mims and this offensive scheme is not meant to be.

This leads to a further schematic disagreement between Mims and this offense. Receivers in the Jets' current system need to be crisp route runners who know the playbook like the back of their hand. This has been a hard transition for Mims.

Switching playbooks after his rookie season was no easy task, especially moving to one that is so specific and technical. Robert Saleh hinted at the differences between his skill set and the ones needed in the offense in an interview earlier last season saying:

"When you’re not one of the main three (receivers) you got to know all three spots, and you got to know them at a high level so you can step in and take advantage of all those opportunities."

Robert Saleh

After this answer earlier in the season, this confirmed to the public that Mims was struggling to get a grasp of the playbook. Whilst some may argue this can be excused, slightly due to the fact that Mims was thrust into a completely new offense, this was still a disappointing admission to hear.

This is the saga that has unfolded around Mims over the last year, and it is hard to see a path to success from here. I don't think Mims has any issues with his attitude as some suggested, however.

He has been out in Arizona over the offseason getting reps in with Zach Wilson, so there is hope this culminates in some sort of link between the two. This is also an indication that he's putting in an effort to improve both his skills and his knowledge of the complicated playbook he has struggled to grasp.

I think it is still too early to say that hope of him being a useful playmaker is over. I also think it is safe to say that any hope of him being at the top of the Jets' depth chart has sadly died. There are plenty of other teams whose offenses he'd be more suited to, but the Jets are not atop that list.

I'm glad to see him out in the desert working hard, and I hope it will lead to more than the 23 targets he received in 2021, but this season seems like Mims' ultimatum as to whether there is any hope whatsoever of him receiving a second contract.