Cowboys 2026 roster rundown: WR Denzel Mims — Yahoo Sports

RESOLVING THE LEDGER

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 19: Denzel Mims #11 of St. Louis BattleHawks warms up prior to the game against the Arlington Renegades at Choctaw Stadium on April 19, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Jack Gorman/UFL/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It wasn’t that long ago that Denzel Mims was a more highly-regarded WR prospect than George Pickens. Their careers have gone very different directions, with Pickens playing 2026 on the franchise tag and Mims coming off a two-year stint in the UFL. While likely not to the same degree, can the Cowboys help Mims’ career as they did Pickens’ last year?

Background

Years in NFL: 4* Acquired by: Free agency (2026)

Mims was a second-round pick by the Jets in 2020, part of a loaded WR class that included CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, Brandon Aiyuk, Jerry Jeudy, and several others who’ve found steady, contributing roles in the NFL. But on top of entering the league during COVID, which that entire class had to overcome, Mims also missed most of his rookie training camp to injury. He didn’t play until Week 7, but still had what ended up being his most productive season with 23 catches for 357 yards in nine games.

In Mims’ second season, the Jets went from offensive-minded head coach Adam Gase to Robert Saleh, who brought in Matt LaFleur as a new offensive coordinator. This regime change, plus his own issues, hurt Mims’ development and footing with the team. He went from eight starts as a rookie to just three in 2021. Mims requested a trade ahead of the 2022 seasons but was denied, and again was limited to a minor role in the WR rotation.

The Jets did finally trade him away in the 2023 offseason to the Lions, but he was waived/injured by Detroit midway through the preseason. He spent about two months on the Steelers’ practice squad but didn’t make it to their training camp the following year. The Jaguars gave him a look during their camp in 2024, but released him before final cuts.

Without an NFL job, Mims started working in the UFL. He spent 2025 with the St. Louis Battlehawks and this past spring with the Dallas Renegades. He only had 11 catches for 110 yards over those two UFL seasons. Still, someone in the Cowboys’ scouting department must have kept tabs on Mims, and he signed with Dallas in mid-June.

Contract Status

Years Left: 1 2026 Cap Hit: $1.15 million

As the veteran minimum is based on accrued seasons, and not just when you got drafted, Mims’ salary is a little lower than what most 2020 draft picks would be making. But even a fifth- or sixth-year player would only get $1.22 million, so it’s a nominal difference in the grand scheme.

2026 Projections

Role: Backup WR Roster Chance: 10%

After that damning background section, you may be struggling with why Mims is even here. While Dallas has dabbled with spring league talents before, they’ve generally been league leaders. KaVontae Turpin was the USFL MVP before Dallas signed him, and Brandon Aubrey was its scoring leader. So for Mims, who flamed out of the NFL and then couldn’t even shine in the minors, this opportunity is rather surprising for the now 28-year-old.

Between the pandemic, injuries, and three years with the Jets, Mims didn’t get an ideal start to his professional career. His primary QBs during that run were Sam Darnold, who was still looking like a bust in 2020, and then two years of Zach Wilson. Mims certainly didn’t help the situation, but a late second-round pick is often more of a dependent than a catalyst.

Someone in the Cowboys organization must feel that Mims has unrealized potential. If nothing else, he’s still 6’3” and known for being a dangerous redzone target. Last year, Dallas’ offense had no problem getting close to paydirt but struggled at times to finish the job. If Mims can show there’s an NFL player in that big body, perhaps that redzone threat gives him an edge over some of the WR competition.

Still, there’s a lot of competition for the bottom of the depth chart. We’ve been through it several times already: three assured spots for Lamb, Pickens, and Flournoy, then a likely fourth for Turpin. Mims isn’t even the front-runner among the other veterans vying for work: Jonathan Mingo or Marquez Valdes-Scantling is right now. Then you have all of the young prospects: Anthony Smith, Traeshon Holden, Jordan Hudson, and others. Mims has to be shockingly good to beat out the experienced guys and the youth, especially if Dallas only keeps one more WR on the roster.

All that said, Mims isn’t here because he won a raffle or a reality show. Someone decided that this 28-year-old backup from the UFL was worth one of Dallas’ 91 spots for training camp. Will Mims make that person look really smart, or will this be the last gasp of his NFL dream?

Check out our previous player profiles from this series:

Cowboys 2026 roster rundown: WR Denzel Mims — Yahoo Sports | AIPROPX