Tag: amarius mims

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.

Bengals select Georgia OT Amarius Mims with 18th overall pick

The Bengals have made their pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

After a historic 14 offensive players came off the board to start the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, the Cincinnati Bengals remained at No. 18 and selected Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims.

Mims, 6’8″ and 340 pounds, looked like one of the top right tackle prospects in the draft and is an obvious fit for a team that lost Jonah Williams to free agency.

With only Trent Brown as the starter on the right side going into next season, Mims arrives as immediate backup help and a possible long-term starter on that edge.

With Mims at 6’8″ and 340 pounds, Brown at 6’8″ and 355 pounds and Orlando Brown at 6’8″ and 345 pounds, the Bengals certainly aren’t shy about the framework they like in edge prospects.

The Bengals entered Thursday night’s opening round with big needs along the offensive and defensive lines, though all levels of the defense and weapons for Joe Burrow weren’t out of the question.

By the time they got to the podium, besides Byron Murphy, most of the draft’s premier defensive players and a handful of offensive linemen remained.

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Report: Commanders to be aggressive with potential move back into 1st round

Do the Commanders have a target in mind?

The Washington Commanders have two pressing needs going into the first round of the 2024 NFL draft: Quarterback and offensive tackle. Washington is expected to pick its quarterback at No. 2 overall.

The Commanders next go on the clock at No. 36 overall and also hold the Bears’ second-round pick at No. 40. Washington will likely target an offensive tackle with one of its second-round picks unless there is a trade back into the first round.

ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid called the Commanders moving back into the first round the “worst-kept secret” in the draft. NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah believes the Commanders will move back into the first round, even projecting a trade in his final mock draft, leading them to select Georgia OT Amarius Mims.

Ryan Fowler of Bleacher Report and The Draft Network had the following to say about the Commanders on Thursday:

Guyton is a 6-foot-8, 322-pound prospect who began his career at TCU before transferring to Oklahoma, where he spent the past two years. Guyton started five games in 2022, four at right tackle and one at left tackle. In 2023, he started nine games at right tackle.

Here is NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein’s scouting report on Guyton:

Ascending tackle prospect with the traits and tape to project a bright future as a high-level pass protector in the league. Guyton has battled injuries and had limited reps coming over from TCU after the 2021 season, but his flashes have been complemented by increasing consistency. He plays with a high center of gravity and needs to get stronger, but leveraged hand strikes can help overcome those concerns. He should continue to get better as a run blocker but might never shine in that department. Guyton’s value comes with his pass protection, as he has the length, feet and body control to become a human roadblock. He should become a talented starter at either tackle position.

Cory Bonini’s 2024 NFL mock draft 3.0

Quarterbacks dominate our final mock draft update of 2024.

Here’s my final 2024 NFL mock draft. Be sure to check our NFL Draft Central page for the rest of our mocks, player scouting reports, and post-draft analysis of every key pick relevant to fantasy football.

*projected trade

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Did Georgia OT Amarius Mims visit the Commanders ahead of the NFL draft?

Could Mims be a Washington target if the Commanders move back into the first round?

The Washington Commanders received a lot of attention last week for their group top-30 visit that featured four of the top quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL draft. The quarterbacks present were Drake Maye (North Carolina), Jayden Daniels (LSU), J.J. McCarthy (Michigan) and Michael Penix Jr. (Washington).

The four quarterbacks arrived in town the night before, as the Commanders took them out for some fun at Top Golf. The reason? To see how the players interacted with one another. The group visit didn’t go over too well with Daniels’ agent.

One person who enjoyed the event at Top Golf was Maye. In an appearance on “This is Football” with Kevin Clark, Maye talked about the experience and mentioned seeing some of the other prospects, such as McCarthy, Daniels and also Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims.

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While Maye didn’t say Mims was in Washington for a top-30 visit, it did sound like the prospective first-round pick was in town, too.

“To be around the other guys, I got to meet a lot of different guys throughout the process,” Maye said. “And a lot of guys I saw in high school recruiting; I remember Amarius Mims; I tried to get him to committed to Alabama when I was committed there in high school……….I think it was a really good experience for me; I think we all got our separate time with the coaches, and when we needed to; it’s not like we didn’t do any of that, but Top Golf was a way for us to get out and do something fun the evening before.”

Mims is one of the more intriguing players in the 2024 draft. At 6-foot-8, 340 pounds, he is massive but moves like a tight end. He will certainly land somewhere in the first round. How high? Mims could go from anywhere in the teens until the final pick in the first round.

Could the Commanders look to move into the first round and select Mims as their left tackle of the future? Washington currently holds the No. 36 and 40 selections in the second round, as well as three third-round picks, giving them plenty of ammunition to move back into the first round.

Video: Breaking down the prospects with injuries entering the draft

Video: Breaking down the 2024 NFL draft prospects with injury risks with Dr. Jimmy Liao of the Detroit Lions Podcast

As a special angle for our draft coverage, we’re sharing a recent video from the Detroit Lions Podcast that goes over the injury status and outlooks for several of the 2024 NFL draft prospects who figure to interest the Detroit Lions.

Dr. Jimmy Liao, a board-certified practicing physician and graduate of the University of Michigan’s medical school as well as a lifelong Lions fan, went into detail on the level of risk on a few prospects. From Kool-Aid McKinstry’s troublesome foot surgery (severe concern) to Jackson Powers-Johnson and Ennis Rakestraw (moderate concern), Zac Zinter (light concern) and more, Dr. Liao goes over the injuries and his relative worries about how it might limit them in the NFL and the Lions, if drafted into Detroit.

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Thanks to Dr. Liao for the detailed breakdowns and information on the risk level with all the prospects and also for answering my personal question about soft tissue injuries.

2024 NFL mock draft: Kevin Hickey

Several projected trades reshape the draft landscape.

Kevin Hickey’s first mock draft of 2024 is now out. Sound off on social media and let us know what you think.

We’ll be unveiling several more mock drafts leading up to the real thing, so be sure to check back with our 2024 NFL Draft Central page to keep track of all of our offerings.

*projected trade

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1

Pick NFL team Pos Player School
1 Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams USC
2 Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels LSU
3 New England Patriots QB Drake Maye North Carolina
4 Arizona Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. Ohio State
5 Minnesota Vikings (from LAC)* QB J.J. McCarthy Michigan
6 New York Giants WR Malik Nabers LSU
7 Tennessee Titans OT Joe Alt Notre Dame
8 Atlanta Falcons EDGE Dallas Turner Alabama
9 Chicago Bears WR Rome Odunze Washington
10 New York Jets TE Brock Bowers Georgia
11 Los Angeles Chargers (from MIN)* IOL Troy Fautanu Washington
12 Denver Broncos EDGE Laiatu Latu UCLA
13 Las Vegas Raiders CB Quinyon Mitchell Toledo
14 New Orleans Saints OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu Penn State
15 Indianapolis Colts WR Brian Thomas Jr. LSU
16 Seattle Seahawks DL Byron Murphy II Texas
17 Jacksonville Jaguars CB Terrion Arnold Alabama
18 Cincinnati Bengals DL Jer’Zhan Newton Illinois
19 Los Angeles Rams EDGE Jared Verse Florida State
20 Pittsburgh Steelers OT JC Latham Alabama
21 Miami Dolphins OT Graham Barton Duke
22 Buffalo Bills (from PHI)* WR Adonai Mitchell Texas
23 Los Angeles Chargers (from MIN)* CB Nate Wiggins Clemson
24 Dallas Cowboys OT Taliese Fuaga Oregon State
25 Green Bay Packers OT Tyler Guyton Oklahoma
26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers IOL Jackson Powers-Johnson Oregon
27 Arizona Cardinals (from HOU) CB Cooper DeJean Iowa
28 Philadelphia Eagles (from BUF)* CB Kool-Aid McKinstry Alabama
29 Detroit Lions EDGE Chop Robinson Penn State
30 Baltimore Ravens EDGE Darius Robinson Missouri
31 San Francisco 49ers OT Amarius Mims Georgia
32 Kansas City Chiefs CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. Missouri

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2024 NFL mock draft: HC Green

QBs and WRs dominate the latest mock draft from The Huddle.

HC Green’s first mock draft of 2024 is now out. Sound off on social media and let us know what you think.

We’ll be unveiling several more mock drafts leading up to the real thing, so be sure to check back with our 2024 NFL Draft Central page to keep track of all of our offerings.

*projected trade

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1

Pick NFL team Pos Player School
1 Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams USC
2 Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels LSU
3 New England Patriots QB Drake Maye North Carolina
4 Arizona Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. Ohio State
5 Minnesota Vikings (from LAC)* QB J.J. McCarthy Michigan
6 New York Giants WR Malik Nabers LSU
7 Tennessee Titans OT Joe Alt Notre Dame
8 Atlanta Falcons EDGE Dallas Turner Alabama
9 Chicago Bears WR Rome Odunze Washington
10 New York Jets TE Brock Bowers Georgia
11 Los Angeles Chargers (from MIN)* OT JC Latham Alabama
12 Denver Broncos OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu Penn State
13 Las Vegas Raiders CB Terrion Arnold Alabama
14 New Orleans Saints IOL Troy Fautanu Washington
15 Indianapolis Colts CB Quinyon Mitchell Toledo
16 Seattle Seahawks DL Byron Murphy II Texas
17 Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. LSU
18 Cincinnati Bengals OT Taliese Fuaga Oregon State
19 Los Angeles Rams EDGE Jared Verse Florida State
20 Pittsburgh Steelers OT Graham Barton Duke
21 Miami Dolphins EDGE Laiatu Latu UCLA
22 Philadelphia Eagles OT Amarius Mims Georgia
23 Los Angeles Chargers (from HOU>MIN)* WR Adonai Mitchell Texas
24 Dallas Cowboys OT Tyler Guyton Oklahoma
25 Green Bay Packers CB Cooper DeJean Iowa
26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers CB Nate Wiggins Clemson
27 Arizona Cardinals (from HOU) EDGE Chop Robinson Penn State
28 Buffalo Bills WR Xavier Worthy Texas
29 Detroit Lions IOL Jackson Powers-Johnson Oregon
30 Baltimore Ravens CB Kool-Aid McKinstry Alabama
31 Las Vegas Raiders (from SF)* QB Michael Penix Jr. Washington
32 Kansas City Chiefs WR Ladd McConkey Georgia

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