Amarius Mims started just eight games in his college career, but the talented offensive tackle has a high enough ceiling that the Cincinnati Bengals selected him with pick No. 18 in the 2024 NFL Draft. In drafting Mims, the Bengals committed to improving protection for franchise quarterback Joe Burrow for years to come.
One of the freakiest athletes in the draft, the 6-foot-7, 340-pound Mims is an insanely gifted mover at his size, with a ton of room to grow. He moves around like a tight end — a fast one — at 340 pounds (with 36 1/8-inch arms and massive 11 3/8-inch hands) and has the foot speed and agility to mirror athletic rushers off the corner.
He’s also a powerhouse with a punch who can knock defenders off their feet in a single blow. Despite his giant frame, Mims plays with good bend and maintains balance throughout both his run and pass pro reps.
The issues are two-fold: experience and health. Mims, 21, only played right tackle in his eight Georgia starts, and he missed six games in 2023 with an ankle injury that required tightrope surgery. He could be a phenom in time, but he might not be ready to start this coming season.
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‘The Beast’ breakdown
Mims ranked No. 19 on Dane Brugler’s Top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:
“Overall, Mims isn’t as far along fundamentally (especially in the run game) as other tackles in the class, but he is a natural in pass protection with above-average length, footwork and body twitch to handle different types of edge rushers. Though there is projection involved with his draft grade, his best football is ahead of him, and he has the talent to become a long-term starter at left or right tackle.”
Coaching intel
What two anonymous coaches had to say about Mims in Bruce Feldman’s mock draft:
“Awesome athlete. Makes a ton of plays. There are times when he doesn’t diagnose it well, but he can cover well, and he will light guys up.”
“He’s like a freak of nature. Massive but very athletic. Has good feet but he’s so high-cut, he struggles with guys that can bend because he’s a little stiff-hipped.”
Why he’s a first-round pick
Some players have a few traits coaches cannot teach. Mims is filled with them. Everything about his frame and athletic profile is elite. He just needs to learn how to be a pro tackle now.
OT Amarius Mims, Georgia (r-Soph):
6-7, 330; reported 85-inch wingspan pic.twitter.com/zZRAcqxunK— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) July 30, 2023
How he fits
The best part about the Mims fit is that he does not have to play immediately. The only knock on him would be his eight career starts. He needs time to gain experience in the preseason and practice before being asked to protect Burrow. That’s part of what made him such an enticing pick. He’ll be the first off the bench if anything happens to Orlando Brown or Trent Brown on the outside. Trade one monster for another.
Rookie impact
The Bengals are seemingly always drafting a year ahead and that could end up being part of the plan here. More than anything, he allows them to build a team that can win in January. Not only did Burrow get hurt in two of his four seasons as a starter, but the Bengals started a backup right tackle in the playoffs for both of their deep runs and it played a significant role in those losses. They are trying to win the Super Bowl and it would be surprising if Mims isn’t starting in January.
Depth-chart impact
Mims will train immediately at both tackle spots as the swing tackle backup for both Browns. An important factor to remember is the durability issues experienced by Trent Brown throughout his career. He has started more than 11 games only once in the last four seasons. He’s battled weight and injury issues. All reports say he looks good since signing with Cincinnati, but Mims is elite insurance.
They also could have picked …
The Bengals could have gone with versatile offensive lineman Troy Fautanu from Washington instead of Mims. He was a higher-floor selection. Fautanu has five-position versatility and excelled as a pass protector for multiple years for the Huskies. There’s plenty of belief he can find a spot he plays well at, which could be right tackle, in the league. The Bengals passed on that for the big swing.
Fast evaluation
This is a risk. The reward is as large as Mims. The bottom line is he only played eight games in college. Those eight games are fantastic and made believers of the Bengals’ staff. More importantly, the reports of how he performed in practice against the Bulldogs’ elite defensive tackles also played a role in seeing him as inexperienced, but not raw. That doesn’t mean he will for sure develop, there’s projection. That projection is All-Pro level.
(Photo: Brandon Sloter / Getty Images)
Daniel Miller is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. His coverage spans from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis for sports enthusiasts.
