Getty Image / Jim McIsaac
Yesterday, the Detroit Lions agreed to a trade with the New York Jets that probably would have flown pretty far under the radar during any time of the year where there was more going on in the sports world.
The Lions agreed to trade a 6th round pick to the Jets in exchange for Denzel Mims and a 7th rounder.
The deal brings an end to a rough 3 years for Denzel Mims where he has underperformed and had a trade request denied by the Jets only to barely be used the following season.
The move will give the Lions a chance to add a bit more depth to their wide receiver room as they wait for Jameson Williams to return from his gambling suspension.
It seems the move also might not even end up costing them anything.
According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, the two teams will only end up swapping their picks if Mims ends up making the 53-man roster for the Lions this season.
The condition on the pick swap is that Mims makes Detroit’s 53-man roster. So it’s a free look at a player who was talented enough to go 59th overall in 2020 and should be plenty motivated in a contract year. https://t.co/eucGKD4ufl
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 20, 2023
You can’t take on any less risk than this in a trade.
If he makes the roster, then the Lions got a former 2nd round pick at the price of moving back one round at the end of the draft.
If he doesn’t, then they got a free look at a former 2nd round pick that could potentially have just been the wrong fit for his last team.
For Mims, the change of scenery works out pretty well. He has wanted out of New York for a while and heads to a team where he could have a real chance at carving out a role.
Outside of Williams and Amon-Ra St Brown, the Lions don’t have anybody that looks like they’ll be hogging targets in 2023.
It also doesn’t hurt that Denzel Mims is upgrading from Zach Wilson to Jared Goff.
Whether or not it works out, the Detroit Lions got themselves a pretty deal.