Bengals’ Bold Move: Snagging Georgia RT Amarius Mims in the First Round

The Cincinnati Bengals made a statement in the first round of the NFL draft by selecting Georgia RT Amarius Mims with the 18th overall pick. The 6-8, 340-pound behemoth is expected to bring a new level of athleticism and dominance to the Bengals’ offensive line.

“He’s huge. A monster. Humungous,” exclaimed Bengals offensive line coach Frank Pollack. “His measurables have to be at the top of the league. His hands are a smidge over 11 inches. His arm length is 36 and change. His wing span is 86 and change. It’s ridiculous.”

But what truly sets Mims apart is his ability to move and use his length effectively, a trait that has Pollack and the Bengals’ staff salivating at the prospect of what he can bring to the table.

“And he can move. He can run. He’s athletic. How is that possible?” Pollack wondered. “And he uses it with his length. That’s what you want. Especially on the edge. There are guys who are long and have good length, but they don’t use it. It’s a moot point if they don’t use it. He uses it.”

The Bengals’ personnel department, including director of college scouting Mike Potts and senior personnel executive Trey Brown, had been high on Mims for some time, having scouted him extensively during his time at Georgia.

“We circle it on our calendar whenever we go there because we know we’re going to see some high-end talent,” Brown said. “And then he would show up every time. 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.”

Mims’ upside, combined with his impressive size and athleticism, ultimately won out over other top prospects, including Washington’s Troy Fautanu.

Despite having only eight college starts under his belt, the Bengals are confident that Mims has the potential to become a dominant force on their offensive line.

“You can look at it as a negative,” said Potts of Mims’ limited experience. “But you can also look at it that the games he did play were quality tape. He’s really gifted. He’s got every physical attribute you could want and he’s a good person.”

As the Bengals look to build on their recent success, the addition of Amarius Mims is a bold move that could pay dividends for years to come.