Tag: nfl draft call

Grading the Bengals’ selection of Georgia OT Amarius Mims

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

The Cincinnati Bengals selected Georgia Bulldogs offensive tackle Amarius Mims with the No. 18 pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Now, NFL draft experts are grading the pick.

USA TODAY gives the Bengals’ first round pick a B- grade.

Big player. Big risk. Big reward. The 6-8, 340-pound Mims is massively talented and might develop into one of the NFL’s most imposing blockers over time. With only eight career starts, though, he’s very much an unproven product.

Mims entered the 2024 NFL draft with questions surrounding his durability and limited starting experience. The Bengals love Mims’ upside and potential. The 6-foot-8, 340-pound offensive tackle was very effective when he played at Georgia. Cincinnati was also impressed with how Mims practiced.

The Bengals’ director of college scouting, Trey Brown, noted that Mims stood out in practice.

“(Mims) would show up every time,” said Brown. “Anytime you get a guy coming out of that program with how they (Georgia) 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.”

This sentiment is very similar to what Georgia head coach Kirby Smart echoed about Mims’ limited starting experience.

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz does not think Amarius Mims will start at the beginning of the season.

Trent Brown likely will have to handle the starting role at right tackle in the early going, but Mims fits the bill of what Cincinnati seems to want from its offensive linemen. But when can the Bengals trust him to keep Joe Burrow clean?

Mims has been so effective when healthy that we disagree with this take. A healthy Mims is good enough to start on Week 1 in the NFL.

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.