Six years ago, as the Dallas Cowboys stared down another draft, they had set their sights on a Baylor standout, a former first-team All-Big 12.  But when CeeDee Lamb fell into their laps at pick number 17, they allowed the New York Jets to pick their Baylor target in the second round. Cut to 2026, and that same wide receiver arrived in Texas for a reunion that could restart his career. 

Denzel Mims arrived at the Cowboys minicamp ready to start the second chapter of his career. “I just keep, you know, keep my mind straight, keep going,” Mims said on July 30 in Oxnard. “It’s going to be a lot of ups and downs, but keep going staying positive and just do what I need to do. Keep working.”

Yet, only weeks later, he finds himself the first victim of the roster cut. The decision was made by the Cowboys after the final preseason game against the New Orleans Saints, which the Cowboys lost 27-24. And if we look back at his record, it might have been a moved destined to fail.

“WR Denzel Mims has been informed of his release from the Cowboys, per source,” ESPN reporter Todd Archer wrote on X on August 29.

For a receiver that the Cowboys once desperately wanted, being cut after recording a reception for negative yardage is a surprise. But if we look back at Mims’ history, it starts to make sense. 

You see, when Mims entered the draft, he was a dominant All-American receiver who was stronger and faster than his college rivals. He recorded over 1,000 yards two times in CFB. It seemed like the move to the NFL would work out for the WR, but like many college prospects, the transition to pro football just did not happen for Mims. His physical advantages couldn’t help him keep up in the league. 

At the same time, his peers were doing much better. For context, he came out of the same draft class that produced some of the league’s most dominant wide receivers, including five-time Pro Bowler Lamb, four-time Pro Bowler Justin Jefferson, and Pro Bowler Jerry Jeudy.

Add to that troubles with injuries, and Mims quickly began to be sidelined. Mims missed the first half of his rookie year, with his return to the team resulting in a disappointing performance. Since then, he moved to the Detroit Lions, then to the Pittsburgh Steelers and then the Jacksonville Jaguars. He kept being waived, but the worst was yet to come. 

Before signing for the Cowboys, Mims had been out of the NFL for two years. He then went to the United Football League (UFL), signing with the St. Louis, where he caught five passes for 51 yards in the six games he featured in.

He then moved to the Dallas Renegades on January 13, 2026, in the UFL Draft, and had a brief stint with them where he played five games for the franchise, catching six passes for 55 yards on 12 targets, averaging 9.2 yards per catch.

After a two-year absence from the NFL, Mims had his shot at returning to the league when the Cowboys signed him. He was elated to be on the roster and to join the iconic team.

With one of the highest-paid wide receivers, CeeDee Lamb, and Pro Bowler George Pickens being the likely starters, the competition in the WR room was always going to be a difficult one to win. Alongside the stars, Mims was also going up against Jordan Hudson, Camden Brown, Jonathan Mingo, and Ryan Flournoy for the remaining wide receiver spots.

Hudson had a splendid end to his preseason in the game against the New Orleans Saints. He had four receptions for 97 yards, including a stunning 52-yard reception from a Sam Howell throw. Camden Brown, on the other hand, had his imprint all over the preseason with standout performances in all three games. Mingo was one of the backups rested for the final game, which indicates he might have a chance to make the final roster.

With all these wide receivers performing far better than Mims, the outcome seemed justified, but this once again leaves the veteran wide receiver out of options ahead of the 2026 season. With the 53-man roster deadline on Sunday at 6 pm ET, Mims will be hoping another team acts fast if he wants to continue his NFL journey, which has so far been filled with highs and lows.

Mims’ journey has been nothing short of a roller coaster, but can a team step in to save his NFL career and let him continue in the 2026 season, with him eyeing a return? If not, keep in mind that the Renegades still have the rights to Mims if he returns to the UFL.