The first phone call from a new teammate welcoming wide receiver Denzel Mims to the Detroit Lions came from quarterback Jared Goff, who has more than a passing interest in what Mims' addition could mean to the Lions' offense.
"When the trade first happened, he was the first one who hit me up," Mims said after practice Monday. "We talked for about 20 or 30 minutes. He told me how the players are around here, and how the coaches are.
"He got me ready for Day 1, honestly."
The Lions acquired Mims last week in a trade with the Jets to add depth and play-making ability to the receiver position.
Mims was available in trade after not living up to expectations when the Jets drafted him in the second round and 59th overall in 2020.
Mims had a promising rookie season, with 23 catches for 357 yards, playing nine games with eight starts. His production fell off the last two seasons – 19 catches for 319 yards combined.
The Lions and Mims are both hoping a change in teams will help him. At 6-3 and 207 pounds, and a time of 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash before the 2020 draft, Mims has the physical tools to be an effective receiver.
Goff gave a positive assessment when asked what he sees in Mims.
"Big, tall and fast," Goff said of Mims. "We'll see. He's a guy who obviously had different things happen throughout his career but lands here and we're excited about him.
"I'm certainly excited about him. I can't wait to work with him. I told him that. I know he brings an element to our team that we can use. As soon as he gets caught up to speed it'll be exciting to see him work with us."
It was important to Mims that the trade was made in time for him to report for the start of training camp Sunday.
View photos from Day 2 of Detroit Lions training camp on Monday July 24, 2023
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Tracy Walker (21) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58), Detroit Lions guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai (72) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Josh Paschal (93) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Steven Gilmore (36) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Cameron Sutton (1) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Cameron Sutton (1) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Dylan Drummond (83) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Benito Jones (94) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Cornerbacks Coach Dre Bly during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Matt Nelson (67) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (6) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Maurice Alexander (15) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions General Manager and Executive Vice President Brad Holmes during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch (32) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Adrian Martinez (18) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Team huddle during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds (8) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Saivion Smith (23) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Maurice Alexander (15) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker James Houston (41) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions fullback Jason Cabinda (45) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Denzel Mims (17) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Cameron Sutton (1) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Anthony Pittman (57) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Chase Lucas (27) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16), Detroit Lions running back Jermar Jefferson (28) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Brady Breeze (35) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (6) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeill (54) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Will Harris (25) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Jerry Jacobs (39) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy (85) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
"I was pretty happy," he said. "It's a new start for me. I was excited to get here. I wanted to get here right away, and they got me here right away to get started so I can get acclimated with the team and used to the team.
"I'm blessed to be here."
Mims did not discuss in any detail his fallout with the Jets, but he made it clear he was happy to move on. He's confident that he'll fit the Lions' system.
"I think I fit very well," he said. "I think JG's got something good going here. Me coming here will also help him. Me being here is going to help me as well.
"I'm excited to show what I can do."
