Cowboys to work out WR they almost drafted, nearly traded for

From @ToddBrock24f7: Denzel Mims was a star coming out of Baylor in 2020, but his pro career fizzled. After a near-trade in 2022, he may finally become a Cowboy.

Denzel Mims was linked to the Cowboys when he was a local college prospect. Then the Cowboys front office reportedly reached out about a possible trade for him a few years into a pro career that wasn’t living up to expectations.

Now, just days away from turning 26, the free agent wide receiver and Texas native may be a step closer to finally finding himself wearing the silver and blue.

ESPN’s Todd Archer is reporting that Mims will be working out for the Cowboys on Tuesday, a possible option for shoring up a pass-catching group in Dallas that is left rather thin with the sudden loss of Brandin Cooks to a knee infection.

https://twitter.com/toddarcher/status/1843639932835029013

Mims was a highly-regarded talent in the 2020 draft. The Cowboys knew the Baylor product well and had taken a long look at him for his blazing speed and huge catch radius. But the Cowboys couldn’t have imagined that CeeDee Lamb would fall their way in the first round. With the 51st pick, the Cowboys couldn’t pass up on cornerback Trevon Diggs, and they left Mims on the board. The Jets ended up taking him eight spots later.

But his tenure in New York was marred by injury and personality clashes with the organization. Mims requested a trade heading into his third season, citing a lack of opportunities within the offense. The Cowboys were reportedly one of a handful of teams to inquire about the 6-foot-3 speedster, but deemed the Jets’ asking price of a fourth-round pick too high.

Mims returned to New York for what turned out to be his final year. Overall, he played in just 30 games as a Jet, logging 42 catches for 676 yards and no touchdowns.

He was eventually traded last summer, but the Lions waived him with an injury designation less than a month later. The Steelers then picked him up and signed him to their practice squad, where he stayed for the 2023 season. Mims spent 2024’s camp with Jacksonville and was released in late August.

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In Sunday’s 20-17 win, the Cowboys gave 2022 draft pick Jalen Tolbert the bulk of the extra work in replacing Cooks. Jalen Brooks also saw additional time, KaVontae Turpin received his usual smattering of offensive snaps, and promising rookie Ryan Flournoy made his NFL debut.

But the Cowboys may decide that the WR room could use another body, with Cooks on injured reserve for at least a few more weeks. Or they may be wondering if Cooks, with just nine catches and 91 yards over four games, is still the best answer at WR2.

So if Tuesday’s workout goes well, the team’s longstanding attraction to Mims may finally be consummated with a contract and a helmet with a star on it.

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4 wide receivers worked out for Broncos, including Denzel Mims

The Broncos brought in four wide receivers for workouts, including former second-round draft pick Denzel Mims.

The Denver Broncos brought in four wide receivers for workouts on Tuesday, including former second-round draft pick Denzel Mims.

The Broncos hosted Kaden Davis, Leon Johnson, Lance McCutcheon and Mims, according to KPRC-TV’s Aaron Wilson.

Davis (6-1, 190 pounds) entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Northwest Missouri State with Denver in 2022. After spending time on the Broncos’ practice squad that fall, Davis spent the following spring playing in the USFL with the Michigan Panthers. He spent last year on the practice squad of the Arizona Cardinals and this summer with the Detroit Lions.

Johnson (6-5, 207 pounds) signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State this spring. He was waived when L.A. set its 53-man roster in August.

McCutcheon (6-3, 202 pounds) entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Montana State with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022. He has since spent time with the Houston Texans and New York Jets.

Mims (6-3, 207 pounds) was picked by the Jets in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft out of Baylor. He hauled in 42 receptions for 676 yards in three seasons with the Jets before being traded to the Lions in 2023. After being waived/injured by Detroit, Mims spent time on the practice squad of the Pittsburgh Steelers last fall. He went to training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars this summer but did not make their 53-man roster.

The Broncos seem to be looking for reinforcements at receiver after their WRs struggled to create separation in the team’s season opener on Sunday. Another name that might be worth watching in the coming weeks is former New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas, who has now completed his one-game suspension. Thomas (6-3, 212 pounds) played for the Saints from 2016-2023, spending six years playing for coach Sean Payton.

Denver’s 53-man roster is full, so if the team adds any receivers, the team will have to make room on the active roster.

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Report: Jaguars begin roster cuts by releasing WR

Report: Jaguars begin roster cuts by releasing WR

The Jaguars reportedly began their preseason roster cuts Sunday morning by releasing wide receiver Denzel Mims, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

A former second-round NFL draft pick by New York, Mims signed with Jacksonville this summer after spending three seasons with the Jets and most of the 2023 campaign on Pittsburgh’s practice squad. He rejoined the Steelers on a futures deal in January but was waived in June.

Mims briefly played for Detroit last offseason, traded there by New York in July but waived with an injury designation the following month.

In four seasons at Baylor, Mims logged 186 receptions for 2,925 yards and the third-most receiving touchdowns in Bears history, 28.

But Mims struggled to maintain the momentum he built in college as he transitioned to the NFL. He caught 42 passes for 676 yards and zero touchdowns in three seasons with the Jets, over 30 appearances and 15 starts.

Mims did not record a catch with Jacksonville during the preseason, despite taking the field for 44 offensive snaps.

Steelers sign WR Jacob Copeland to 1-year contract

The Steelers added a wide receiver on Friday.

On Friday, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced they had added a wide receiver. No, not that wide receiver. Sorry, Pittsburgh still hasn’t pulled off a blockbuster trade just yet. Instead, they have simply filled out their 90-man training camp roster by signing wide receiver Jacob Copeland to replace Denzel Mims, who was released earlier this week.

Copeland played his college football at Florida and Maryland. He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Tennessee Titans in 2023. Copeland spent time with the Titans, Minnesota Vikings and Steelers. Prior to signing with the Steelers this time around, he spent some time in 2024 no the Kansas City Chiefs roster.

The Steelers traded away wide receiver Diontae Johnson early in free agency, leaving a huge void at wide receiver. Copeland isn’t going to be the guy to fill it but the Steelers seem to be banking one of the other guys on the team will. This includes Van Jefferson, Roman Wilson and Calvin Austin III.

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Jaguars announce Denzel Mims signing, waive WR

Jaguars announce Denzel Mims signing, waive WR

Jacksonville made its reported signing of free agent wide receiver Denzel Mims official and waived wide receiver Kyric McGowan in a corresponding move Thursday, the club announced.

Mims was a second-round NFL draft pick by the New York Jets in 2020 following his four-season college stint with Baylor, where he caught 186 receptions for 2,925 yards and 28 touchdowns, the latter stat ranking third in Bears history.

But Mims struggled to maintain the momentum he built in college as he transitioned to the pros. He caught 42 receptions for 676 yards and zero touchdowns in three seasons with the Jets, making 30 appearances and 15 starts.

He was dealt to Detroit during the 2023 offseason in a trade involving a late-round conditional pick swap, which was canceled after the Lions waived Mims in the preseason with an injury designation.

Mims signed with Pittsburgh’s practice squad last October and signed a futures deal with the team in January. The Steelers waived him on Tuesday.

The Jaguars signed McGowan on Friday following his mandatory minicamp tryout with the club last week.

An undrafted free agent from Georgia Tech in 2022, McGowan signed with Washington that offseason and spent most of his rookie campaign on the Commanders’ practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster for two games in the middle of the year and logged 29 total snaps.

McGowan was placed on Washington’s injured reserve last August and released shortly after that, leaving him without a team for the 2023 season.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said during minicamp that Jacksonville intended to sign multiple receivers this summer after the team lost undrafted rookie receivers Wayne Ruby Jr. and David White Jr. to injury in offseason workouts.

“We’re down obviously couple receivers with David going down last week,” Pederson said June 12. “We’re definitely looking to fill you couple spots before we head into [training] camp.”

Jacksonville also signed tryout receiver Austin Trammell last week, on Wednesday.

Report: Jaguars signing WR Denzel Mims

Report: Jaguars signing WR Denzel Mims

Free agent wide receiver Denzel Mims plans to sign with the Jaguars on Thursday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Mims was waived by Pittsburgh Tuesday after signing a futures deal with the team in January. He spent most of the 2023 season on the Steelers’ practice squad.

A second-round pick by New York in the 2020 NFL draft, Mims spent the first three seasons of his career with the Jets and produced 42 receptions for 676 yards in 30 games, including 15 starts. He did not score a touchdown.

New York traded Mims and a 2025 conditional seventh-round pick to Detroit for a conditional sixth-round selection the same year in July 2023. But after being waived with an injury designation that August, the trade was effectively voided and both teams kept their picks.

Mims’ signing marks Jacksonville’s latest wide receiver transaction following its offseason workout program. The Jaguars signed tryout wide receivers Austin Trammell and Kyric McGowan last week to replace injured undrafted rookies Wayne Ruby Jr. and David White Jr.

Steelers waive wide receiver Denzel Mims

The Steelers have an open roster spot after cutting WR Denzel Mims.

Per multiple reports, including Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Pittsburgh Steelers have waived wide receiver Denzel Mims.

Mims joined the Steelers practice squad last October and was signed to a reserve/futures contract in January.

The 6-foot-3 Mims, drafted out of Baylor in 2020, hasn’t done much in his three-year career. His first season with the Jets produced 357 yards on 23 receptions. Overall, he’s logged just 676 yards in 30 games (15 starts) and never scored a touchdown.

To cut a player at a position of need, the Steelers have something up their sleeve. With the UFL season done, options for Pittsburgh to snag a conditioned receiver are out there.

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17 WRs the Vikings can sign with Justin Jefferson on IR

The Vikings need to add a veteran wide receiver and there are plenty of options in free agency and on practice squads

The Minnesota Vikings were dealt a crushing blow on Tuesday when they placed wide receiver Justin Jefferson on injured reserve.

Sitting at 1-4, the Vikings are in an odd spot. They have played much better than their record, but a -9 turnover differential has been a major factor in their lack of success.

Without Jefferson, that will change how defenses will approach the Vikings. They will be able to play more aggressive coverages without Jefferson on the field.

The likes of Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborn will need to step up and T.J. Hockenson is going to become the top option for the Vikings. They will need to add a wide receiver to the roster to fill Jefferson’s roster spot and there are 17 intriguing candidates.

Steelers sign a pair of ex-Lions to their practice squad

The Pittsburgh Steelers sign a pair of ex-Lions to their practice squad for Week 5

Two players who spent the summer and preseason with the Detroit Lions have found a new home. Wide receiver Denzel Mims and offensive tackle Obinna Eze are now members of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pittsburgh signed both ex-Lions to their practice squad on Tuesday.

Eze spent all of 2022 with the Lions as an undrafted rookie from TCU. He did not make the final roster cutdown and has remained unsigned since.

Mims was acquired by the Lions in an offseason trade with the New York Jets. He suffered a lower leg injury in training camp and was waived with injury designation. After going unclaimed on waivers, Mims took an injury settlement from the Lions.

Denzel Mims takes an injury settlement and gets waived from the Lions I.R.

Mims reverted to the Lions I.R. when no other team claimed him off waivers

The last vestiges of the brief Denzel Mims tenure in Detroit are now all gone. The veteran receiver reached an injury settlement with the veteran wideout and waived Mims from the injured reserve list.

Mims reverted to the I.R. on Sunday after being waived by the Lions with an injury designation. No other team claimed Mims, who is dealing with a lower leg injury suffered on August 5th in a practice collision with teammate Tracy Walker.

Mims is now free to sign with another team. He is not eligible to re-sign with the Lions until after the terms of the injury settlement, which is typically four weeks but has not been specified. The Lions did bring S C.J. Moore back last season after an injury settlement, but that is not common.

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