NY Jets WR Denzel Mims makes his case with stellar preseason showing

Justin Fried

NY Jets, Denzel Mims / Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

NY Jets wide receiver Denzel Mims has already made his intentions clear. He believes that he's a starting-caliber wide receiver in this league, and if the Jets aren't going to give him that opportunity, he wants out.

On Sunday, in the Jets' final preseason game of the summer, Mims looked to prove his point.

The former Baylor star finished with a team-leading seven catches for 102 yards and a touchdown in pretty much a half of football. That touchdown was the first of his professional career and you could tell just how happy his teammates were for him.

It's unclear what the future holds for Mims who still believes he deserves more opportunities. Whether he receives those opportunities in New York or elsewhere, Sunday's performance certainly helped his case.

NY Jets wide receiver Denzel Mims boosted his value around the NFL

Mims officially requested a trade from the Jets this weekend after a tumultuous two years with the organization. Following a promising rookie year, Mims hit rock bottom last season and put together a disastrous campaign.

Now buried on the depth chart, Mims has almost exclusively run with the third-team offense in training camp and the preseason, and that was once again the case on Sunday.

The Mims we saw in that preseason finale, however, was different than any version of him we've seen in quite some time. He looked confident and rejuvenated as he made plays with both Mike White and Chris Streveler at quarterback.

He was hauling in 50/50 balls, running crisp routes, contributing on special teams, and making the splashy plays that he so often did at Baylor. This is the Denzel Mims the Jets drafted in the second round some 2.5 years ago.

Was his resurgence fueled by his recent trade request? Quite possibly. He appeared to be playing with a chip on his shoulder — like he was out to prove his doubters wrong, both those employed by the Jets and those watching at home.

The Jets continue to insist that they have no plans to trade Mims. Head coach Robert Saleh said after the game that Mims is one of the team's six best wide receivers. They aren't going to give him away for free.

As for Mims, he just wants an opportunity. To receive those opportunities, he needs to make the most of the snaps he's given. On Sunday, he did just that.

Will that performance be his swan song in New York? Only time will tell. Either way, Mims certainly helped his ca

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.