With college pro days and in-person workouts scrapped, prospects and teams are depending on technology to get better acquainted with one another leading up the NFL Draft later this month. Virtual visits and internet interviews are the new normal this selection season, and the Cowboys have reportedly done their due diligence on a hometown product via FaceTime.
Wide receiver Denzel Mims was proclaimed one of the “winners” at the NFL Scouting Combine, showing off a ridiculous catch radius and tearing up the 3-cone drill. The Baylor burner recorded a 4.38 40-yard dash, tying him for the fifth-fastest time in Indianapolis this year. Mims has been a big climber on most draft boards, and it seems more and more teams are catching on.
In addition to the teams I reported on last week (see below), #Baylor WR Denzel Mims has recently held pre-draft meetings over FaceTime with the #Eagles, #Cowboys, #Rams & #Jets. He has one with the #Packers in a few days. https://t.co/kmcf2x7AZP
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) April 3, 2020
The Cowboys locked up Amari Cooper with a new contract, and rising star Michael Gallup will be in just his third year, but the team is nevertheless shopping for depth at the position in 2020. Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb may be the first receivers selected in the draft, but the 22-year-old out of Daingerfield in east Texas could prove to be a sleeper-caliber steal if he lasts beyond the first round.
Mims played his final game for Baylor in the 2020 Sugar Bowl, and left a lasting impression. He led the Baylor offense in receiving yards against Georgia, finishing with five receptions for 75 yards and scoring the team’s lone receiving touchdown in the Bears’ win.
Then came the Senior Bowl, and Mims wowed again. He rocketed over 30 spots up the player rankings from Pro Football Focus after that game alone.
Denzel Mims was used as a vertical/fade specialist — which makes sense for a 6'3" guy who ran a 4.38 40 — but when he got to run other routes, you'd see flashes of an explosive route runner.
Then you see his senior bowl tape and my goodness. First round talent in my eyes. pic.twitter.com/AM3CQG4eNw
— Nick Olson (@NickOlsonNFL) March 27, 2020
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Scouting report from Lance Zierlein, NFL.com:
“Mims is a long-striding outside target with excellent height, weight and speed and an insane catch-radius. He’s a touchdown threat anytime he’s near the red zone, with the focus and body control to finesse and finish catches above the rim. He struggles to release and separate from physical press corners, and he doesn’t consistently compete and outwork opponents for positioning on contested catches. If the route work and intensity catch up with his natural athletic ability, he could become a dangerous “Z” receiver in a vertical offense, but the floor might be lower than some teams are comfortable with.”
Scouting report from Kyle Crabbs, The Draft Network:
“Denzel Mims projects as an X-receiver at the NFL level. With his notable catch radius, physical play and high end body control, Mims projects as a potential starter at the pro level. He brings developing routes and effective play side blocking to the field — which will help him find reps early on in his pro career as he looks to add further refinement to his game. Mims enjoyed a career season in 2019 and appears to have the arrow facing up as he transitions into the pro game.”
Using the 17th pick on Mims may be a bit of a reach, as there will certainly be better players available. But if Dallas is able to use their first-round pick on a defensive standout, don’t be surprised if a big-bodied pass-catching talent like Mims gets a phone call from the Dallas area code their next time up.
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