Due to the Dallas Cowboys’ recent woes at the receiver position, we’ve been researching the best possible candidates that would be both affordable and available to help bolster the once vaunted receiving core. With the free agent pool depleted of notable talent outside of the often injured Odell Beckham and Will Fuller, we turned our attention to wide receivers who were reported to be unhappy with their current teams. Michael Thomas and Robby Anderson were the first two receivers that we looked into in that regard, however acquiring either would involve both giving up assets and taking over their lucrative contracts, moves the Cowboys aren’t realistically willing to make. Denzel Mims, however is a young wide receiver who would both be inexpensive and still has the potential to develop into a valued contributor to a good offense.

Background

Denzel Mims, a Texas native from Dangerfield, played his collegiate career at Baylor where he earned the reputation as one of the premier big play receivers in all of college football. Over the course of his 4 year tenure with the Baylor Bears Mims accounted for 2925 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns. He also averaged an impressive 15.7 yards per reception during that time. This coupled with his next level physical gifts made him one of the more highly touted receiver prospects in his draft class. Mims measured in at 6’3, 205 lbs, and still posted a blistering 40 time of 4.38. These factors led him to be drafted in the 2nd round of the 2020 NFL draft by the New York Jets.

Since being drafted Mims stint with the Jets has been everything but impressive, but mostly due to factors outside of his control. Injuries, lack of targets, and poor quarterback play has helped contribute to Mims’ horrendous start. With rumblings that Mims wants out of New York he would be the perfect candidate for Dallas to take a flier on.

A Win Win

Due to how abysmal Mims’ production has been his first two seasons (31 receptions, 490 yards, 0 Touchdowns) his trade value should be relatively low. He also is on a very cheap rookie contract, only having cap hits of 1.4 and 1.7 million this season and next. While it is true he has not had the production that the Jets predicted he would be going to a situation that would be extremely beneficial to him in Dallas. Each year of Kellen Moore’s tenure as Offensive Coordinator the Dallas Cowboys have finished top 10 in pass attempts. While Mims has never had a season with 50 targets, 6 different Cowboys players were targeted 60 times or more last year.

Kellen Moore’s offense is designed for multiple players to be involved in the passing attack and due to this Mims would have the adequate opportunities to contribute that he was never afforded in New York. This coupled with the fact that Prescott is a far superior quarterback than any that Mims has played with up to this point means his production should take a drastic up tick within this offense. If the move doesn’t work out it would cost the Cowboys next to nothing to move on from him, but it does the Cowboys would of added a young and extremely gifted receiver for pennies on the dollar. The Cowboys have a top 10 quarterback, one of the most pass happy offenses in football, and an award winning medical staff with a reputation for helping injury prone players extend their careers. Dallas has everything in place Mims needs to take the next step in his development, the only question is rather or not they are open to taking a chance on the home grown play maker.