The Denver Broncos are out to a 2-1 start to begin the 2026 NFL season and aside from an embarrassing performance in Week 1, the team should be extremely happy with that. However, one player who has been almost non-existent through those first three games is Marvin Mims Jr.
In the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, Mims returned two punts for 36 yards, but he was a non-factor on offense (he did leave part of the game for injury evaluation). Mims then sat out the last two games while dealing with a foot injury. Mims returned to practice on Wednesday and is expected back on the field in Week 4 against the San Francisco 49ers, but the question needs to be asked: do the Broncos need him?
Mims is a wide receiver by trade, but the Broncos
use him primarily as a return specialist. It's hard to argue against that as he has been selected to two Pro Bowls and earned All-Pro recognition as a return specialist.
How badly do the Broncos need Marvin Mims going forward?
Mims is set to be an unrestricted free agent in 2027, and he knew going into this season that he needed to perform well to earn another contract.
Marvin Mims is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract with the Broncos, and he understands the NFL is a business.
— Jon Heath (@ByJonHeath) May 12, 2026
"I've seen how quickly this franchise can change," he said: https://t.co/RZ7ur5tegy pic.twitter.com/Riex0TjRhK
Mims is a talented player. The problem for him is going to be where he fits going forward. The Broncos seem to have a plan in the passing game, and it's hard to see where Mims would have much of a role in it. Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle and Pat Bryant have been featured, while Troy Franklin has seen minimal snaps. Mims might see even less.
In the return game, it's clear that undrafted free agent Kolbe Katsis can replace him in that area as well. Katsis would be a much cheaper option in the future. This is not to slight Mims at all, but it is the way the front office will look at the situation.
Will the Broncos offer Mims a new contract this offseason? Will they let him hit free agency? Or will they look to get something for him while they can and trade him before this year's trade deadline, which is set for Nov. 10? It's unclear what Denver's plans are, but it's possible we're watching Mims' final season with the club.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Is Marvin Mims becoming expendable for the Broncos?
