NY Jets wide receiver Denzel Mims has found himself at the center of trade rumors over the last couple of months with the situation coming to a head last week after he officially requested a trade.
The Jets, however, don't appear to be in a hurry to move him.
SNY's Connor Hughes reported on Wednesday that four teams — the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, and Carolina Panthers — called the Jets about a possible Mims trade, only to be turned away because of a high asking price.
Hughes is reporting that the Jets are seeking a fourth-round pick in exchange for their former second-rounder, certainly a high price given what Mims put on tape last year.
The Jets clearly value Mims and don't want to give him away for less than they believe he's worth. That isn't going to help him get any more playing time in New York, though.
The NY Jets are seemingly unwilling to trade Denzel Mims
The Jets may have set their asking price at a fourth-round pick, but that doesn't mean any team is going to meet it. In fact, it's hard to imagine any team seriously entertaining that offer.
Mims showed promise as a rookie before completely bottoming out with a disaster of a 2021 season. He's returned this year in excellent shape and has made strides toward improving his versatility and overall value.
He's been playing special teams. His routes look sharper. He genuinely seems more motivated than ever before. Unfortunately, there just isn't room for him in the Jets' offense.
Mims is currently slated to be a healthy scratch every week barring injuries at the wide receiver position. In reality, it'll take multiple injuries for Mims to receive actual playing time.
Even if Corey Davis goes down, the Jets would likely shift Elijah Moore and Garrett Wilson to the outside while Braxton Berrios assumes slot duties. There isn't a clear pathway to Mims receiving offensive snaps.
Despite this, the Jets seem intent on hanging onto him because of the precedent they've set. They don't want to trade a player for lower than their perceived value, even if the player isn't going to play and his trade value will likely only decrease.
Such is the Joe Douglas way. Denzel Mims might not like it, but if the Jets aren't willing to play ball, there's not much he can do.