New Orleans Saints should explore a trade for WR Denzel Mims

The New Orleans Saints have managed to start the season off with a 2-1 record despite mountains of adversity thrown their way.

And they’ve done so by leaning on their defense and ground game much more than they have in recent memory. That game plan has been born out of necessity.

With Michael Thomas sidelined, the Saints are, of course, incredibly thin at wide receiver. This is hardly a revelation, but it does remain the truth.

They’ve gotten by with the likes of Marquez Callaway, Juwan Johnson, and Deonte Harris so far, but an opportunity might just present itself for the Saints to make a high-upside addition at the position.

New York Jets wide receiver Denzel Mims has been the center of trade talks as of late. And although the latest reports indicate that the Jets are turning away potential suitors, the Saints should do what they can to add the talented wideout.

Denzel Mims would be an excellent addition to the Saints offense

The Saints leading receiver (that’s not named Alvin Kamara) through three weeks is Deonte Harris who has hauled in six catches for 112 yards. But 55 of those yards came on his long touchdown in the team’s Week 1 blowout of the Green Bay Packers.

Callaway finally got going on Sunday, but it’s been a slow-ish start to the season for the training camp standout. The Saints could use another wide receiver to add to the mix.

And preferably one with more long-term upside than Chris Hogan or Ty Montgomery. Mims could be that player.

A second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Mims missed most of the summer of his rookie year and the first half of the season before returning and playing nine games down the stretch last year.

He hauled in 23 catches for 357 yards and showed flashes despite playing in an abysmal offense. That said, Mims has fallen out of favor with the Jets’ new coaching staff and was a healthy scratch in each of the last two weeks.

The front office reportedly still thinks highly of him, but if the Jets are willing to move him at any point, the Saints should be all over it.

At 6-foot-3, Mims has the type of size/speed blend that you just can’t teach. He ran a blazing 4.38 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and would have as much raw talent as anyone on the Saints roster that’s not Michael Thomas.

Mims has struggled to get on the field this year with the Jets coaching staff citing his lack of ability to contribute on special teams as a primary reason. But that wouldn’t need to be his role in New Orleans.

Denzel Mims wouldn’t make or break the Saints’ offense. But he would be a young, high-upside player the team could add at a major position of need for a relatively cheap price.

That’s a move you make every time.