Tag: amarius mims

What the Cincinnati Bengals are getting in Georgia OT Amarius Mims

Joe Burrow’s new protector: Here’s what Amarius Mims brings to the Cincinnati Bengals

Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims is the latest Bulldogs offensive lineman to hear his named called on Day 1 of the NFL draft, joining Broderick Jones, Andrew Thomas, Isaiah Wilson, Isaiah Wynn and more in the Kirby Smart era.

With the No. 18 overall pick in Thursday’s first round, the Cincinnati Bengals landed Mims’ services in the 2024 NFL draft. Bengals fans should be happy with the pickup, as well as star quarterback Joe Burrow.

Mims isn’t hard to miss on the field. Standing at 6-foot-8, 340 pounds, Mims looks as if he was created to be an NFL tackle. Don’t let the size fool you, though, as Mims has the footwork and athletic ability to move with the speed of edge rushers in the league. In 372 career pass-blocking snaps as a Bulldog, Mims didn’t allow a single sack.

As I’m sure Bengals fans have heard by now, the only knock on Mims in the pre-draft process was the number of starts he had to his name coming out of Georgia (eight). As Kirby Smart points out here, going up against future first-round picks in practice everyday is a much more valuable barometer for pro success rather than simply starts.

“What does that matter if you’ve blocked Travon Walker, Nolan Smith, Robert Beal your whole career,” Smart said at UGA’s Pro Day. “What does eight starts matter? Would you rather have someone who started 27 games and played against nobody, or somebody who played against first-round draft picks every day in practice? I know which one I’m picking.”

Although he missed half of Georgia’s 2023 season with an ankle injury that required surgery, Mims logged plenty of playing time over his three-year career in Athens.

“He started last year for me,” Smart continued. “The year before last he started almost every game in terms of he was in the second or third series,” Smart said. “I think when you look over the history, there have been some really successful linemen that have been three-and-out that didn’t start in that window. He’s uber-talented. He works really hard. He’s really intelligent. He’s going to play a long time in the NFL.”

Bengals’ Amarius Mims responds to Nick Saban’s comments during NFL draft

Bengals first-round Amarius Mims responded to Nick Saban’s criticism.

Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick Amarius Mims had his fair share of critics during the 2024 NFL draft before the team made him the 18th overall selection.

Nick Saban was a big one of those.

Appearing on ABC’s draft coverage, Saban had this to say about Mims after the Bengals made the pick, according to 247Sports’ Mike Rodak: “This guy’s got all the tools — he’s got great size, he’s got great power. … But it makes you wonder, how did the guy only start 8 [games?] Like, in the SEC championship game, he played only the first 15 plays of the game and then he’s out. Takes himself out. I don’t know what he injured, what he hurt, whatever. But you’ve got to be a little bit more consistent in your performance if you’re going to be a great player and a starter in the National Football League.”

Saban went on to question whether Mims developed the habits to play against guys who are up to his level of competition after playing at a small high school.

The sharp criticism of Mims isn’t exactly uncommon, mostly because Mims had trouble staying on the field at Georgia. Given the quality of his tape when he was on the field, had he played more snaps, he might not have lasted until 18th overall.

As for Mims, though, he took the high road, saying that he saw the comments but didn’t want to get into it, according to Laurel Pfahler of the Dayton Daily News: “Like I said, I don’t really know too much. I’ve got a lot of respect for coach Saban, even when he said that. He’s one of the greatest college head coaches. Like I said, it is what it is, but I’m just glad I’m a Cincinnati Bengal.”

That’s about as mature of a response as anyone could ask for from a college player on the biggest night of his career to date and, indeed, shows a level of focus that probably appealed to the Bengals in the first place.

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Watch: Amarius Mims’ emotional draft call with the Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals’ draft call with Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims left him speechless

The Cincinnati Bengals got their guy: Georgia Bulldogs offensive tackle Amarius Mims.

Mims entered the 2024 NFL draft with questions surrounding his durability and limited starting experience. However, the Bengals aren’t worried about Mims’ flaws. Instead, they love his upside and potential. Cincinnati drafted Mims with the No. 18 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Cincinnati’s director of college scouting, Trey Brown, noted the Bengals love to check out Georgia football.

“We circle it on our calendar whenever we go there because we know we’re going to see some high-end talent. And then (Mims) would show up every time,” said Brown. “Anytime you get a guy coming out of that program with how they train, how they develop players, it puts you at ease going to guys coming out of that system. There were a lot of great defensive players Amarius was able to go against.”

Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor called Mims to inform him the Bengals planned to draft him. Mims was left speechless for a moment during his draft call.

Draft calls are one of our favorite parts of the draft. Players, such as Mims, finally experience their NFL dreams becoming a reality after years of hard work and dedication.

Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart echoed the Bengals’ sentiment when it comes to Mims. Mims showed up in practice at Georgia despite limited starting experience.

“What does that matter if you’ve blocked Travon Walker, Nolan Smith, Robert Beal your whole career. What does eight starts matter? Would you rather have someone who started 27 games and played against nobody, or somebody who played against first-round draft picks every day in practice? I know which one I’m picking,” Smart said.

Bengals 1st-rounder Amarius Mims goes viral again in hilarious footage

Yeah, this is a funny one featuring new Bengals rookie Amarius Mims.

It’s no secret that new Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Amarius Mims is massive.

Bengals fans knew that one going into the draft — the eventual 18th pick in the 2024 draft was listed at 6’8″ and 340 pounds.

And yet, it’s still pretty staggering to actually see those listed measurements in action. Not on an SEC football field amongst other big football players either — but alongside normal-sized people.

Case in point, viral footage of Mims from 2020 resurfacing yet again after the Bengals picked him that shows him running alongside other high schoolers.

The footage is outrageous, silly and pretty much every word a person can think of as a reaction:

And for fun, here’s Mims a few years after that — and a few months ago — at the scouting combine media events:

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Watch: Bengals’ Zac Taylor calls Amarius Mims to make him a 1st-round pick

This one is worth a watch.

The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t need long to share the emotional phone call to Amarius Mims, the 18th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

As always, it was Bengals head coach Zac Taylor on the phone calling the prospect.

This time, Taylor called Mims to inform him he would be on his way to Cincinnati, where he’ll learn from similar offensive tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and Trent Brown while prepping for a long-term role in front of Joe Burrow.

The clip shared by the Bengals’ social media team is brief but emotional and well worth the watch for fans of the team:

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Bengals reveal plan for first-round pick Amarius Mims

Bengals coaches talked about the plan for the new first-round rookie.

The Cincinnati Bengals plan to put 18th overall pick Amarius Mims through the paces as a rookie.

Mims, a consensus top offensive tackle in the 2024 NFL draft, won’t necessarily have to start as a rookie with Orlando Brown Jr. manning left tackle and Trent Brown stepping in on the right edge.

But he will have to learn from both, it seems.

Speaking with reporters after the Bengals made the pick, head coach Zac Taylor said that Mims will work both sides as a rookie, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic.

That certainly makes sense, given the size similarities shared by the trio. The Bengals have a type they prefer and Mims’s getting to learn from two very different-styled players who share that similar frame can go a long way toward helping him succeed after he only started eight games at Georgia.

Otherwise, Taylor and Co. were adamant that the ability to bring Brown in made the pick possible — and that they would agree they landed a rare prospect at No. 18.

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Around the North: Bengals take big swing drafting Amarius Mims

Mims heads to the AFC North

The Cleveland Browns in-state rival Cincinnati Bengals have made a move to protect their franchise quarterback using their first-round pick on Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims. The Bengals took the offensive tackle with the most upside but also the most risks, as Mims has only started eight games in college with the Bulldogs.

If you’re looking for a ball of clay with ridiculous athleticism and size at offensive tackle, Mims is an exceptional athlete. Cincinnati will have a chance to decide if Mims plays right away or try to develop him with his limited experience at the position.

Keeping Joe Burrow upright has to be the team’s key focus this upcoming year, and this is an excellent place to start. Mims isn’t just a great athlete, he has elite-level size and arm length while possessing great play strength and solid hand placement and usage. Ultimately, this is a good pick for the rival Bengals, who are taking a chance on a player with tremendous upside.

Instant analysis of Bengals picking Amarius Mims in the first round

Instant analysis after the Bengals make a big splash in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals stuck with a “protect Joe Burrow at all costs” approach in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, selecting Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims at 18th overall.

Mims is about as predictable as it gets for a Bengals team that needs to reinforce right tackle. Jonah Williams left in free agency and new arrival Trent Brown has had attendance issues over the last few seasons.

It’s also predictable in the blueprint sense. The size listings of Mims (6’8″ and 340 pounds), Brown (6’8″ and 355) and Orlando Brown Jr. (6’8″ and 345) at left tackle are pretty uncanny.

It’s no secret Mims was one of the highest-upside tackle prospects in a deep class this year, with there being some inherent risk, too.

Though he only started eight games at Georgia, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared Mims to Donovan Smith, a two-time Super Bowl champion and long-running pro tackle:

Talented tackle prospect carrying a picturesque frame and exciting NFL traits. Mims plays with pretty good technique and is ahead of the game with hand placement. He has the size and bend to create movement and adequate athleticism to make blocks on the move, although he can be inconsistent in that area. He uses a two-hand punch that causes him to lunge forward a bit, but that should be correctable. It is very rare to see him clearly beaten by a rusher, and he has the recovery talent to do something about it when it happens.

Cincinnati’s very inconsistent history at developing offensive linemen will be a red flag for some fans given the fact Mims is such a developmental prospect.

But the fact Mims won’t be thrown to the fire as a rookie, perhaps at all, softens the blow and risk. This also follows the team’s continued habit of drafting major needs one year in advance, like they did with Dax Hill before Jessie Bates left.

There were some other talented prospects on the board, but it’s pretty hard to complain about the team’s top objective being the health of Burrow, especially with nine more picks to hit other spots.

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Cincinnati Bengals select Georgia OT Amarius Mims with the 19th overall pick. Grade: C (or A)

The Bengals got an athletic freak in Amarius Mims, but how does that help them now?

The only way to grade this pick is “Incomplete.” Amarius Mims is from another planet with his measurables, and the Bengals needed help at offensive tackle. But given Mims’ lack of experience and injury history, can be the one to help Joe Burrow stay healthy in the short term? Last season, Cincinnati’s tackles combined to allow 15 sacks and 100 total pressures. Perhaps a more immediate starter might have been a better idea, especially with multiple Bengals (Trey Hendrickson, Tee Higgins) asking to be traded out of town. 

A composite five-star recruit out of Bleckley County High School in Cochran, Georgia, Mims stayed close to home by committing to Georgia, and he saw action in 2021 and 2022 as a reserve with 121 snaps at right tackle in 2021, and 383 in 2022. Mims worked through injuries in 2023 that limited his snaps to 297, but when he was on the field, he allowed no sacks and one total pressure in 168 pass-blocking reps. Why is Mims talked about as a first-round prospect with such limited experience? Athletic traits. At 6′ 7¾” ad 340 pounds, Mims brings a size/speed/agility profile to the position we don’t often see. 

Mims’ NFL team will need to work with him on several foundational constructs before he’s able to fully realize that amazing potential, but as raw as his tape can be, you can also see why he’s prized as a prospect, and why he could be utterly amazing over time.

PLUSES

— Pure “Planet Theory” human being whose spider chart looks like science fiction; there just aren’t many people this big who can move like he does.

— Can move just about anybody in a straight line against their will.

— Shockingly agile on the move; Mims can get upfield quickly on screens and pulls and just bulldoze anybody in his way.

— Upper-body strength is comical; he’ll latch onto a defender and wind up just pushing and throwing the poor guy out of the octagon.

MINUSES

— Lack of experience shows up in limited technique; Mims needs work on his hands to latch and maintain through the block. He’s too leaky to either side to give up pressure.

— Also needs work on taking vision to execution, because he’s far too vulnerable to speed rushers crossing his face and zapping him with inside counters.

— Pass set is a work in progress; he’s more of a catcher than a fluid mover through the arc.

— Stunts and games might be a problem until he gets the hang of reading things through the play.

Mims is unquestionably a developmental prospect, but when you watch his tape, you understand exactly why some NFL team is highly likely to throw that first-round flier in. Over time, and with the right coaching, he has the athletic potential to be a rare prospect at right or left tackle.

2024 NFL draft: Georgia OT Amarius Mims goes No. 18 overall to Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals take Amarius Mims in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft…

Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims is a Cincinnati Bengal.

The Bengals took Mims with the No. 18 pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night. He was the fifth offensive tackle off the board on Day 1.

Mims joins former Bulldogs offensive linemen Broderick Jones, Andrew Thomas, Isaiah Wilson and Isaiah Wynn as first-round draft picks under head coach Kirby Smart. The former five-star prospect is another prototypical tackle from UGA, standing 6 feet, 8 inches and 340 pounds.

Despite starting only eight games as a Bulldog (30 games played), Mims’ upside was too good to pass up for the Bengals. After all, Mims’ snap count wasn’t limited by his ability; he played behind future NFL draft pick Warren McClendon.

Mims did not allow a sack in 372 career pass-blocking snaps at right tackle for Georgia, including while protecting Carson Beck, the SEC’s leading passer. His season was limited, though, by an ankle injury that held him out of seven games.

Cincinnati star quarterback Joe Burrow has his new protector.