Tag: Marvin Mims

WATCH: Bo Nix throws first touchdown pass as a Bronco

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Mims in his (preseason) NFL debut on Sunday.

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix threw the first (preseason) touchdown pass of his NFL career against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

Nix threw a one-yard pass to wide receiver Marvin Mims to take a 10-3 lead over the Colts late in the second quarter. Here’s video of the play, courtesy of the team’s official Twitter/X page:

Nix entered the game on Denver’s third offensive drive and is now 5-of-9 passing for 44 yards with one score at the time of publication.

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Can Denver’s receivers offer anything more than Courtland Sutton?

This looks like one of the bleakest WR corps in fantasy. But is that true?

Coming off a disastrous 2022 that saw the Denver Broncos fire their head coach after less than a full season on the job, the team hoped luring Sean Payton out of retirement to take over the reins would turn things around. It did not. A year after finishing 21st in total offense, Denver slipped to 26th overall (298.4 yards per game) and 24th in passing (191.9).

That marked the end of quarterback Russell Wilson‘s time in the Mile High City. He was released and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The club also moved on from former first-round pick wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, who was traded to the Cleveland Browns. Additions were made as well, including QB Bo Nix, selected 12th overall selection back in April, along with WRs Josh Reynolds, signed from the Detroit Lions in free agency, and Troy Franklin, who played with Nix at Oregon the past two seasons.

While this absolutely feels like a rebuilding year in Denver, that doesn’t mean there won’t be any fantasy value to be found in the Broncos’ receiver room.

Broncos believe they will benefit from the NFL’s new kickoff rule

The Broncos believe they can take advantage of the NFL’s new XFL-style kickoff. Here’s why.

The Denver Broncos had one of the worst special teams units in the NFL when they hired Sean Payton in 2023, and he quickly addressed it.

Payton overhauled the club’s special teams personnel and brought in Ben Kotwica as the team’s new special teams coordinator. He also hired Mike Westhoff, an experienced special teams coach, as his assistant head coach.

Following those changes, Denver’s special teams units ranked seventh in 2023, a huge improvement from the team’s No. 25 ranking in 2022. Payton believes his staff gives the Broncos an advantage on special teams, and the NFL’s new kickoff rule set to debut in 2024 excites him.

“This one [was a rule change we were] trying to push it through,” Payton said last week. “We think it benefits us. Trust me, we’re in favor of it. We like it because we think we return kicks and cover kicks just as well as anyone. We think we coach it well.”

Under the new format, kickoff coverage players and blockers from the returning team will line up five yards apart, with two returners behind them. That will lead to fewer high-speed collisions, potentially reducing the number of injuries on kickoffs this season.

With less space between the coverage and return units, Payton said teams could use bigger-bodied players to block for returns this season. The new setup will also feature two returners instead of the traditional lone returner.

“[I]t’s a completely different play [than the old format],” Payton said in May. “The two deep backs are going to have to have good ball skills, a little bit of a shortstop, third baseman [skillset], if you will because we’re not just going to get these easy to catch high kicks anymore. We’re going to get these shots in the gaps, if you will. If it gets through our group and into the end zone, we’re on the 20-yard line. If it goes out of bounds, obviously we’re on the 40, or if it’s short. So I think it creates a unique skill set for the returners.”

Kicking teams will have a 20-yard “landing zone” to target this fall. A kick that lands between the end zone and the 20-yard line must be returned. A kick into the end zone can be downed for a touchback brought up to the 30-yard line (a kick that rolls into the end zone can be downed for a touchback brought up to the 20-yard line). If a kick does not reach the 20-yard line, the returning team will get the ball at the 40-yard line.

It’s a bit complicated that there are three different starting points based on the result of a dead kick, which is something Payton wants to see changed in the future.

“I don’t like three different starting spots,” Payton said last week. “In other words, I understand the 20-[yard line] — I like it. I get the old rule when it went out of bounds, but if it’s in the box, great. If it’s outside the box, put it in the same spot whether it’s [out over] the sideline, end zone or short.

“Because I think right now it will take a lot of fans a long time to figure out the three different spots. ‘Wait a minute, it went out of bounds, it’s on the 40-[yard line], but it went too deep or short, it’s on the 30-[yard line]?’ So reduce the variables there. Just make it a box foul.”

The different starting points aside, Payton is excited about the XFL-style kickoff in general. Kotwica is, too.

“It’s been a great process,” Kotwica said in June. “As a coach, you always want to be challenged. This is definitely a challenge on multiple levels. Not only tactically, but schematically and with personnel. It’s something that we’ve been working on, and it’s something that’s going to definitely change the game. I support it.

“It meets the demands, which increases the number of returns — that’s the intent — while reducing those long run, high-speed collisions to protect our players. It’ll be interesting. I would tell you, it’s a movement-to-contact, to use a military term. Things are going to change. It’s going to be dynamic. We’re working to be ahead of those changes and get the best results.”

The new rules should lead to more kickoffs, which should be good news for the Broncos, who have one of the NFL’s best returners in Marvin Mims.

“It’s more exciting,” Mims said this spring. “The whole purpose of them changing the rule was to get more production out of the kickoff. Kick returns are supposed to be a good play. Last year there were a lot of touchbacks [and] this year is supposed to be an actual play. It’s new to everybody, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Denver’s eager to pull out all the stops, but the most interesting kickoff strategies won’t be revealed during preseason.

“There will be some things we do in preseason that we’re — every team in this league will hold on some of the things that they want to do for Week 1,” Payton said. “I was talking to [former NFL official] Walt Anderson, he came in today. I said to him, ‘Walt, you’re not going to see in the preseason what you think. You just aren’t.’ Maybe in a joint practice you will, a closed practice or with each other.”

The Broncos will kick off preseason against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, but the most interesting wrinkles won’t be unveiled until the regular season begins in September. Payton believes more touchdowns are on the way as a result of the rule change.

“I don’t know what the average touchdown — it’s been a while — but you might get a couple a year,” Payton said. “You’re going to get double-digit touchdown returns. You’re going to see a lot more plays, and I think that was the intention of the rule.”

Denver scored one touchdown on a kickoff return last year and Mims averaged 26.5 yards per return. Those numbers should go up in 2024.

“It can be an edge for us, and I expect it to be,” Payton said.

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Can the Oklahoma Sooners feature a 1,000-yard receiver in 2024?

The Oklahoma Sooners have had just two 1,000-yard receivers since 2019. Will they feature one in 2024?

Since 2019, the Oklahoma Sooners have had just two players eclipse the 1,000-yard receiving mark. [autotag]CeeDee Lamb[/autotag] in 2019 and [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] in 2022. [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag] came close in 2023 with 962 yards after his breakout season.

Certainly, the big years from [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag], [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag], [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag], and [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] kept Stoops from crossing that threshold. It’s likely Anthony would have pushed across the 1,000-yard mark last year.

He had 419 yards in six games and would have remained a heavy feature in the passing game down the stretch.

Could Oklahoma’s depth at receiver in 2024 prevent someone from reaching that milestone?

The Sooners head into 2024 with a number of big-play threats in Anderson, Burks, Gibson, Anthony, [autotag]Brenan Thompson[/autotag], and [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag]. Gibson and Anderson each averaged more than 20 yards per reception in 2023.

The Oklahoma Sooners have a number of playmakers for [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag], [autotag]Emmitt Jones[/autotag], and [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] to work with in 2024. It’s an abundance of riches at wide receiver.

Most analysts, including our own two-deep depth chart projection, believe it will be Jalil Farooq, Nic Anderson, and Deion Burks opening the season as the starting trio at wide receiver, with Burks playing primarily in the slot. Jayden Gibson is expected to be the No. 4 wide receiver. The Sooners have a group of guys that can win at every level of the passing game but this group can take the top off of the defense.

Deion Burks seems the most likely candidate to eclipse 1,000 yards in 2024. He had an electric performance in the spring game and showed off the kind of after the catch ability that will create huge plays even on short to intermediate routes.

In the spring game, we saw his ability to quickly take advantage of poor coverage, a missed assignment, or a player who can’t match his speed. With Arnold’s big arm, defenses are going to have to be concerned with Burks every time he’s on the field.

Burks feels like a good bet to get enough targets that he’ll have the best shot to go over the 1,000-yard mark. Even if he doesn’t see the 107 targets that Drake Stoops received in 2023, Burks’ ability to create big plays down the field and after the catch will provide him the opportunity to pick up big yardage on his targets.

If he or another Sooners receiver doesn’t get there this year, it’s likely because the offense spread the ball around, and a bunch of guys put up big numbers.

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Broncos roster series: No. 19, WR Marvin Mims

After making the Pro Bowl as a returner last season, Broncos WR Marvin Mims will look to make a bigger impact on offense in Year 2.

Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at second-year wide receiver Marvin Mims, No. 19.

Before the Broncos: Mims (5-11, 182 pounds) played college football at Oklahoma, totaling 123 receptions for 2,398 yards and 20 touchdowns in three seasons (37 games). He also returned 33 punts for 391 yards with the Sooners.

Broncos tenure: Denver picked Mims in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft last spring. He made an instant impact on special teams as a rookie, earning Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro recognition as a returner. Mims also made the PFWA All-AFC and All-Rookie teams in 2023.

Mims returned 15 kickoffs for 397 yards and one touchdown last fall, averaging 26.5 yards per return. He also returned 19 punts for 312 yards with an average of 16.4 YPR. Mims had a limited role on offense as a rookie (22 catches for 377 yards and one score), but he will be more involved in 2024.

Chances to make the 53-man roster: Lock. Following the NFL’s switch to an XFL-style kickoff, Mims could prove to be even more valuable to the Broncos as an explosive returner this season. Mims can also help replace Jerry Jeudy on offense this fall, making him a lock for the 53-man roster.

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Broncos will get Marvin Mims more involved on offense in 2024

“I think we’ll see a lot of growth from Year 1 to Year 2,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of wide receiver Marvin Mims.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims made a big impact on special teams as a rookie last season, earning a Pro Bowl nod as a returner after totaling 709 return yards and a touchdown.

Mims also made plays when given opportunities on offense, averaging 17.1 yards per reception, but he rarely got opportunities on offense. Mims played 384 snaps last fall, a big drop from Jerry Jeudy (662) and an even bigger drop from Courtland Sutton (782).

The most notable snap number was Jeudy’s. Mims plays essentially the same position as Jeudy, who was traded to the Cleveland Browns this spring. Following Jeudy’s departure, there should be more snaps available for Mims this fall.

“I’ve said this, and I’ll say it again — we were as much responsible for, I don’t want to say holding him back, but you’re trying to get snaps with Jerry Jeudy, with Courtland,” coach Sean Payton said on May 30. “I think we’ll see a lot of growth from Year 1 to Year 2. He’s tough. He had a really good play today.

“We know he’s a good returner. We felt that was one of the strengths obviously that we saw on tape. But we saw transitional speed, we saw the things that you need to have at that receiver position. So I don’t think it was his development as much as, and I don’t want to say a crowded room, but just trying to create enough touches for those guys.”

It’s a bittersweet scenario for Mims. He knows the Jeudy trade will open more opportunities for him, but he lost a good teammate in the trade.

“It’s tough,” Mims said. “Coming in as a rookie last year, Jerry looked out for me and taught me a lot. It was great to be in a room with him. With him going to Cleveland, hopefully that’s the best opportunity for him to showcase what he can do. He’s one heck of a player. I just wish him all the best. Whatever happens here, happens here.”

Mims turned 33 targets into 22 receptions for 377 yards and one touchdown last fall. With a chance to emerge as the team’s No. 2 receiver in 2024, Mims should easily see his numbers make a big jump in Year 2.

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Oklahoma lands commitment from 2026 four-star TE Ryder Mix

Oklahoma lands second prospect for 2026 recruiting class, earning a commitment from four-star tight end Ryder Mix.

Oklahoma is knee-deep hosting official visits for the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag] this month, but that hasn’t stopped this staff from broadening their horizons and scouting talent for the classes to come. Brent Venables’ Football Camp is all about exposure for a lot of prospects from across the country and one of the camp’s standouts saw enough to hop in the boat.

Ryder Mix, a talented four-star tight end out of Frisco, Texas announced his commitment to the Oklahoma Sooners Saturday afternoon. 247Sports has Mix as the No. 21 tight end in the country and a top-60 prospect in the state of Texas. Mix chose Oklahoma over offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Miami, Florida State, and Oregon.

The layers to the Mix commitment run deep.

Mix plays his high school ball at Lone Star High School, which also gave the Sooners, [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag].

Mims starred at OU before being drafted in the third round by the Denver Broncos. Mix’s offensive coordinator is former OU football player [autotag]Travis Wilson[/autotag], a member of multiple Big 12 title-winning teams. He was part of a loaded receiving core that featured [autotag]Mark Clayton[/autotag] and [autotag]Brandon Jones[/autotag].

The Sooners offered in February and after an unofficial visit Mix made the decision to come down to camp this summer. Mix clocks in at 6-foot-4 and over 210 pounds. He was named an All-District selection and looks to take on a much larger role for his high school team this year.

With Mix committed Oklahoma now has two commits for its [autotag]2026 recruiting class[/autotag], both being on the offensive side of the ball. Running back Jonathan Hatton Jr. surprised everyone during the season last fall by committing to Oklahoma out of nowhere. Mix’s commitment is somewhat out of the same playbook.

Oklahoma is building some nice early momentum for their 2026 class. With two commitments already, the summer may be fun for the Sooners’ 2025 recruiting and 2026 recruiting alike.

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Sean Payton comments on NFL’s new kickoff rule: ‘It’s fun’

“We were for it for a lot a reasons,” Payton said of the kickoff rule. “We have what we feel like is one of the better special teams units.”

The NFL will have a new XFL-style kickoff rule this season.

Under the new format, NFL teams will still kick the ball from the 35-yard line, but there’s a new twist: every player on the kicking team other than the kicker will now line up with at least one foot on the returning team’s 40-yard line. Broncos coach Sean Payton is in favor of the change.

“It’s fun that we’re doing this,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said during his pre-draft press conference in April. “When I say that it’s fun, I think there’s a little unknown. I think this: The distance traveled is going to be not as far, so when you’re covering a kick, speed is fairly important as a coverage unit getting down the field and getting to the ball carrier. We’ve taken that whole group and said, ‘All right, we’re going to put you guys 10 yards away. I think certainly you could see probably a little heavier unit then.

“It’s certainly going to put a premium on your two returners because you have to have two, and then that box where you’re kicking the ball to, these guys, like third basemen, are going to have to be able to field these kicks pretty cleanly. We were for it for a lot a reasons. We have what we feel like is one of the better special teams units. We feel like last year, we made a lot of gains there. We have a good returner.”

Denver receiver Marvin Mims made the Pro Bowl as a returner last season after leading the league with 16.4 yards per punt return and ranking fourth with 26.5 yards per kickoff return. The new rule should, in theory, lead to more returns in 2024, which is good news for Mims.

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Sean Payton expects to see a lot of growth from Marvin Mims in 2024

“I think you’re going to see a lot of growth with this player,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of WR Marvin Mims.

Broncos second-year wide receiver Marvin Mims had a great season as a returner in his rookie season, but he had a relatively quiet role on offense.

Mims played in 16 games last fall, starting seven, while catching 22 passes for 377 yards and a touchdown. Denver head coach Sean Payton expects to see much more from Mims in his sophomore campaign.

“Mims, we saw him flourish as a returner,” Payton said on Feb. 27. “I really think the only thing that really stopped his progress as a receiver was us and trying to find roles. He [was] playing the same position as Jerry [Jeudy]. I’ve said this a number of times, I think you’re going to see a lot of growth with this player. He’s tough, he can run and we’re certainly excited that we have him.

“I think the key is for us — and I say us as coaches in game planning — is evolving. Every time we’ve kind of put his name on a certain play, he hasn’t disappointed. That doesn’t mean the ball always went to him but the point I’m making is I think his progress was hampered a little bit more with the depth in the room, in what we were able to do and sometimes trying to balance that out. I think we’ll see that expand.”

The Broncos traded Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns earlier this offseason, which should create a larger role for Mims on offense going forward.

After earning a Pro Bowl nod and making the PFWA Team as a returner in 2023, Mims will aim to make a bigger impact on offense in 2024.

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Oklahoma Sooners enter spring with tons of depth at wide receiver

Emmett Jones and the Oklahoma Sooners have assembled an incredibly talented group of players at wide receiver for 2024.

In each of the last two seasons, the Oklahoma Sooners have lost their leading receiver.

[autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag], who led the team in 2022, earned a Pro Bowl selection with the Denver Broncos in his rookie season in 2023. [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag] is hoping to hear his name called in the 2024 NFL draft after his breakout season in 2023.

And despite the turnover, the Sooners are still stacked at wide receiver.

[autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] is back after his breakout season in 2023. Anderson caught 38 balls for 798 yards and 10 touchdowns. He led the nation in yards per reception among qualified wide receivers. [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag], who also experienced a breakout year in a rotational role also returns looking to build off of a season in which he had 14 receptions for 375 yards and five touchdowns. Swiss Army knife wide receiver [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] returns to give the Sooners a veteran in the room. He had a solid year that was marred by ball insecurity that reared its head in the Alamo Bowl loss to Arizona. Farooq was second on the team in receptions and third in receiving yards last season.

[autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] returns after suffering an ACL tear in the Red River Rivalry win over Texas. Prior to his injury, Anthony was leading the Sooners in receiving, winning at every level of the passing game.

Also back are speedsters [autotag]Brenen Thompson[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag]. Though they saw limited playing time, their speed put defenses on notice last year. Thompson provided big play ability every time he stepped on the field and will look to earn a bigger role this offseason. Pettaway was getting his feet wet as a true freshman but could see an increased workload on offense and special teams.

And if that was the depth chart at wide receiver heading into 2024, you’d feel great about what Jackson Arnold will be throwing to. And yet, the talent that Emmett Jones has assembled at wide receiver looks like the heroes arriving at the culmination of Avengers: End Game for the battle with Thanos.

Jones also brought in talented playmaker [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] from Purdue. Burks could be a candidate to start for the Sooners in the slot, taking over for Stoops in 2024. And if that weren’t enough, the Sooners added a really good freshman class with [autotag]Zion Kearney[/autotag], [autotag]Ivan Carreon[/autotag], [autotag]Zion Ragins[/autotag], and [autotag]K.J. Daniels[/autotag].

To say the Sooners are talent-rich at wide receiver heading into 2024 would be an understatement. From top to bottom, it’s easily the deepest position group on the roster. And with Jackson Arnold taking over at quarterback and transition along the offensive line, a lot will be expected of Emmett Jones’ wide receiver crew to provide big plays for the Sooners in 2024.

And with the talent that Jones and the Sooners have assembled, they’re about to have a huge season in their first in the SEC.

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