Mims Determined To Make Teams That Passed on Him Pay

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New Jets WR Denzel Mims Determined to Make Teams That Passed On Him Pay

 

Ethan Greenberg

TEAM REPORTER

 

 

 

Ray Carlin/Associated Press

New Jets receiver Denzel Mims is trading his green and gold Baylor jersey for one that's green and white. Even though the NFL Draft is unpredictable, his gut told him he'd end up with the Jets.

"We had a few conversations and I always thought I would be a Jet in the back of my head one day," he said after the Jets traded down in Round 2 and selected the former Bear with the 59th overall selection. "When I got the phone call, I was very excited and very happy."

The 6-2, 207-pounder is a playmaker on the outside, whom GM Joe Douglas described as "long, smooth receiver with great body control, a big catch radius and soft hands." He was the only player in the NCAA with at least 8 receiving TDs in each of the last three seasons. The Daingerfield, TX, native led the Bears in receiving in 2017 and '19, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark in each year. Mims finished his collegiate career earning first-team All-Big 12 honors.

"I developed a lot from my freshman year to my senior year," he said. "I matured as a man on and off the field. I was taught the game of football, the actual details of everything on the football field. The way they used me, they knew I needed the ball in my hand. I make a lot of plays when I have the ball in my hands and when it comes down to crunch time, they knew I want the ball to make the play to try to help my team get the win."

Jets coach Adam Gase and Douglas talked about adding explosive playmakers to the offense and Mims fits the bill. He tied for third among wideouts at the Combine with a 4.38 40-yard dash and ranked fourth with a 10'11" broad jump.

"That's something that we've been talking about before we even started last year, keep adding guys that can bring speed to the field and put pressure on the other team," Gase said. "That's something that our scouts have been combing colleges all year long. That's what the last couple days are all about — finding guys that will fit the profile of what we're looking for."

In addition to his speed, Mims told reporters after he was selected Friday night that he also takes pride in his blocking and his ability to haul in contested catches.

"I worked on it a lot," he said. "I know that at the next level there are a lot of great corners and you're not always going to have a lot of separation, so there are going to be a lot of 50-50 balls and I'll come through with them."

Mims said he's "everything that you want in a football player" and is excited about playing with 22-year-old Jets QB Sam Darnold.

"We have Sam Darnold and that's a great quarterback," he said. "I can't wait to get to work with him and make a lot of things happen with him. I had time to watch him and to actually be playing with him, on the same team as him and same offense, it's unbelievable."

Mims rose up draft boards with an impressive week at January's Senior Bowl and followed it with a strong Combine. In a rich receiver class, however, he was the 13th wideout selected, which has lit a fire under the newest Jet.

"Usually when you call these guys, they're excited, there's a lot of emotion," Douglas said. "Denzel had a real chip on his shoulder. It was important to him that he was going to make these teams pay that passed him up. We can't wait to get that type of competitor, that type of mentality in the building."

[ElBarrioJets]

"Usually when you call these guys, they're excited, there's a lot of emotion," Douglas said. "Denzel had a real chip on his shoulder. It was important to him that he was going to make these teams pay that passed him up. We can't wait to get that type of competitor, that type of mentality in the building."

This is a great point. After watching the call, you could tell Mims was PISSED he fell so far. An excellent quality for a guy to have honestly. 

[jbt]

if he becomes a #1, who do you think he would be like, could become?

[FidelioJet]

4 minutes ago, jbt said:

if he becomes a #1, who do you think he would be like, could become?

I think he has a Terrell Owens type game.  

[LIJetsFan]

As long as he's not pissed at us for passing on him before we picked him.   

[joewilly12]

A WR like Mims will push Sam Darnold. 

[ChuckkieB]

This is the kind of fire you like to see in a young player.  You know he's gonna work his tail off to be the best he can be.  Wherever that ends up being on the good to great WR scale is the big mystery, but we at least know this guy is determined to maximize his potential.

[Joejet]

9 minutes ago, joewilly12 said:

A WR like Mims will push Sam Darnold. 

Hi Joe, glad to see you back posting.

[JohnnyLV]

30 minutes ago, ElBarrioJets said:

"Usually when you call these guys, they're excited, there's a lot of emotion," Douglas said. "Denzel had a real chip on his shoulder. It was important to him that he was going to make these teams pay that passed him up. We can't wait to get that type of competitor, that type of mentality in the building."

This is a great point. After watching the call, you could tell Mims was PISSED he fell so far. An excellent quality for a guy to have honestly. 

He was but you could also see he was excited. I liked it.

You know I was reading about Joe Judge and how he was laying down the law about what to say and I wondered if this has ever happened.

GM to prospect: So are you ready to be part of our team?

Prospect: Nah man, I just wasnt like feeling it with your coach, he's like a dick, you know?

GM: What?

Prospect: Yeah like just pass on me rather play somewhere else

GM Well you are our guy, you will love it here

Prospect: well do what your gonna do but Id rather go somewhere else if you feel me

[flgreen]

19 minutes ago, ChuckkieB said:

This is the kind of fire you like to see in a young player.  You know he's gonna work his tail off to be the best he can be.  Wherever that ends up being on the good to great WR scale is the big mystery, but we at least know this guy is determined to maximize his potential.

You could see in the Senior Bowl tapes how hard he had worked on his own.  He's from Baylor, not exactly a WR breeding ground.  The BIG rap on him was he wouldn't do well at the Senior Bowl because he had never been coached in running routes.  He was one of the sharpest route runners of all the WR's.  

Not only that, he physically abused the CB's trying to cover him in press coverage.  He was by-far the best WR at the Senior Bowl, then went and blew up the Combine.

He certainly still needs some NFL coaching, but I really think the Jets got a good one here.  

[JTJet]

33 minutes ago, LIJetsFan said:

As long as he's not pissed at us for passing on him before we picked him.   

Techincally most teams passed on him twice including us... technically lol. 

[thebuzzardman]

Do teams that passed on him twice have to pay double? 

[rangerous]

didn't becton say about the same thing?  he thought he was the best tackle and should've been the first one taken.  hard to say how mims will actually translate this on the field.  i wonder if jerry rice was upset being the 3rd wr taken in 85?

[jeremy2020]

Oh, man, never seen this kinda fire from a player before. Gonna make teams that didn't draft him pay?! Holy cow, can't believe we don't hear this from like hundreds of players every season. Guess they just don't want it as much! 

[TNJet]

1 hour ago, jbt said:

if he becomes a #1, who do you think he would be like, could become?

Braylon Edwards 

[Dupe]

On draft day I was comparing bios on available guys.  Mims’s stats and writeup was far and away better than anyone available.  I have a hard time believing “rounding out his routes” accounted for the difference. I really thought they should have traded up to get him.  I can't understand what the deal was.  He seems like a good, motivated kid  

 

[Sperm Edwards]

It'd be better if he just said he was happy to be here and wants to learn as much as he can. Like we don't need 50+ independent contractors here & stuff.

[ljr]

1 hour ago, jbt said:

if he becomes a #1, who do you think he would be like, could become?

Keyshawn 

[Jolot]

I like the pick , and think he’ll be very good ...but honestly everyone who drops says this ..some prove people wrong some don’t ..for every Thurman Thomas there’s a Josh Rosen ...I hope he does stick it a lot of people for our sake . 

[jetsman1]

Mims reminds me talent wise of Josh Gordon.....he has the ability to be the best receiver in football. Hopefully he'll reach his potential.

[Dcat]

1 hour ago, LIJetsFan said:

As long as he's not pissed at us for passing on him before we picked him.   

Is that the tea leaves saying it will be a love/hate relationship?

[bitonti]

30 minutes ago, jeremy2020 said:

Oh, man, never seen this kinda fire from a player before. Gonna make teams that didn't draft him pay?! Holy cow, can't believe we don't hear this from like hundreds of players every season. Guess they just don't want it as much! 

[jetstream23]

39 minutes ago, thebuzzardman said:

Do teams that passed on him twice have to pay double? 

[JetFreak89]

1 hour ago, johnnysd said:

He was but you could also see he was excited. I liked it.

You know I was reading about Joe Judge and how he was laying down the law about what to say and I wondered if this has ever happened.

GM to prospect: So are you ready to be part of our team?

Prospect: Nah man, I just wasnt like feeling it with your coach, he's like a dick, you know?

GM: What?

Prospect: Yeah like just pass on me rather play somewhere else

GM Well you are our guy, you will love it here

Prospect: well do what your gonna do but Id rather go somewhere else if you feel me

Of course it has happened...there is video and everything:

 

[Teh Bumble]

Truly hope he does. Truly. Like Steve Smith levels of chip on shoulder... but, Jace Amaro talked this talk too. Show me, Mims.

[New York Mick]

1 hour ago, joewilly12 said:

A WR like Mims will push Sam Darnold. 

A QB like Brady, Manning, Burger, Brees etc would tell him to shut up. 
He was drafted in the 2nd round and was passed on by the team that eventually took him so he’s mad at the whole league lol. 

[Losmeister]

1 hour ago, flgreen said:

He certainly still needs some NFL coaching, but I really think the Jets got a good one here. 

makes me think...do we still have Hines Ward to teach him how to knock a LBs block off hwne he aint got his head on a swivel like he ought to...??

[Losmeister]

36 minutes ago, Jolot said:

I like the pick , and think he’ll be very good ...but honestly everyone who drops says this ..some prove people wrong some don’t ..for every Thurman Thomas there’s a Josh Rosen ...I hope he does stick it a lot of people for our sake . 

[nickfoshizal]

2 hours ago, jbt said:

if he becomes a #1, who do you think he would be like, could become?

Start with Kevin White, make him more explosive and give him DeAndre Hopkins physical route running and ability to make plays in traffic on the outside, especially late in games. You have Denzel Mims.

[flgreen]

14 minutes ago, Losmeister said:

makes me think...do we still have Hines Ward to teach him how to knock a LBs block off hwne he aint got his head on a swivel like he ought to...??

Ward was hired by the Jets last year as a full time coach, so I imagine he's still with the team.

D'Brick is gone though unless he comes back as an intern again this summer.  I'd like to see D'Brick work with Becton

[fullblast]

This is great, but I hope his actual focus remains on cleaning up the parts of his game that caused him to drop. Always look inward first!

[PepPep]

I wonder if he's pissed the Jets passed on him at 68 LOL 

Seriously though, you gotta love guys that care about this kind of stuff because it means they have a fire and desire to prove themselves, something you pretty much NEED to succeed at the next level.  

[munchmemory]

11 minutes ago, fullblast said:

This is great, but I hope his actual focus remains on cleaning up the parts of his game that caused him to drop. Always look inward first!

Great post.  Was just about to write something similar.  Getting mired in vengeance or a "I'll show them" mentality is counterproductive.  Worry about kicking ass with the Jets this season.

[#27TheDominator]

2 hours ago, FidelioJet said:

I think he has a Terrell Owens type game.  

 

1 hour ago, ljr said:

Keyshawn 

Seriously?  Those guys were slugs compared to this kid.  I don't think his game will resemble theirs.  The thing that scares me is he reminds of two guys I liked a lot that didn't exactly tear up the league: Robert Meachem and Chris Conley.

[FidelioJet]

7 minutes ago, #27TheDominator said:

 

Seriously?  Those guys were slugs compared to this kid.  I don't think his game will resemble theirs.  The thing that scares me is he reminds of two guys I liked a lot that didn't exactly tear up the league: Robert Meachem and Chris Conley.

So, Terrell Owens ran a 4.45 40 VS. Mim’s 4.38 - is 7 - 100th of sec. what you call “slug”? Vs. “this kid”

Even if you did, which would be absurd, my point wasn’t about their speed but the way they play.  Strong, soft hands, big catch radius, works the sideline really well.  Those are the things I like about Mims which Owens did really well...