NY Jets: 4 second year players with a point to prove in 2021

1. Denzel Mims, WR, NY Jets

It’s been a difficult offseason for wide receiver Denzel Mims.

A second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the former Baylor standout struggled with injuries at the start of last season and while there were flashes of brilliance in an otherwise dismal year, Mims is already sliding down the pecking order of a new look Jets wideout corps.

The Jets' crowded the receiver room this offseason, with the signings of Corey Davis and Keelan Cole complementing the exciting selection of another second-round wide receiver in Elijah Moore during the 2021 NFL Draft.

Mims then struggled during training camp and a bout with food poisoning resulted in him losing 20 pounds in weight, adding more uncertainty regarding his place in the team.

But in the Jets preseason victory over the Giants, Mims showed glimpses of his potential, with 51 yards on three passes, including a 20-yard reception in which he powered through multiple tacklers.

If he’s going to become a solid contributor for the Jets going forward, Mims has put those sorts of runs in on a consistent basis and prove that he’s deserving to be on the field over the other receivers on the roster.

Veteran Jamieson Crowder will also get plenty of passes from rookie Zach Wilson, so Mims will be up against it for playing time with the other playmakers on the Jets roster.

Mims can be a valuable target for Wilson and the Jets' offense for plenty of years to come, but this could very much depend on how productive he is in 2021.