Each year at the combine, the 40-yard dash helps some folks increase their draft stock. It really helps playmakers on both sides of the ball and among those who were aided by a good showing was receiver Denzel Mims.
The Baylor product had a strong Senior Bowl week of practices and followed that up with a massive showing at the combine. Mims ran 4.38 40-yard time, his position’s third-best time, and a 38.5-inch vertical jump, the sixth-best. Mims stands at 6-foot-3, 207 pounds and could be exactly the type of wideout many predict the Bills to target at some point this offseason.
Touchdown Wire seems to think so, at least. In their post-combine mock draft, the Bills use the No. 22 overall pick to select Mims:
One of the more fascinating aspects of the 2019 NFL season was the transition we saw from Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Imagine if, prior to his draft, someone told you that during his second season in the NFL Allen would be more of a timing and rhythm passer, and would struggle with the deep ball?
You would have thought that person was insane.
But that is what happened last year. Under Brian Daboll’s tutelage Allen improved working underneath (the acquisition of Cole Beasley helped in that area) but truly struggled down the field. If the Bills – and Allen – are going to take the leap forward everyone in Buffalo hopes they do, the vertical passing game needs to click.
Mims, the Baylor product, can help in that effort. He was one of the winners of the combine, but when you watch him on film you can see how he can be an impact player early in the vertical passing game. He was at his best working on the vertical stem, whether in the back-shoulder game or on pure vertical routes. His ability to stress the defense down the field would open up room for Beasley, John Brown and Dawson Knox to work underneath, and tax defenses as multiple levels of the field.
That’s the perfect recipe that many peg for the Bills offense. Mims make an impact deep, possibly with Brown’s speed, too. Regardless, the Bills just need one of two things in a receiver this offseason: height and promise.
Since the Zay Jones experience has failed, the Bills have no young talent there. There is talent, yes, but Brown and Beasley aren’t young. They also don’t have size. Getting both of those things for Allen to work with could be solved in Mims.
Previous to the Senior Bowl and combine, Mims was thought of as a Day 2 pick. He has since soared and could be a fair pick for the Bills in the first round.
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