Broncos GM Dishes on How 2nd-Round WR Marvin Mims Jr.'s Game 'Evolved'
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Last week, the Denver Broncos traded up into the second round to select Oklahoma wideout Marvin Mims Jr. The 5-foot-11, 183-pound wideout brings 4.38 speed to the Broncos' offense, injecting some dynamic playmaking ability into the equation.
That'll come in handy with KJ Hamler suffering an offseason pectoral injury that has clouded his 2023 outlook. Jerry Jeudy's got some wheels, and so does 2022 undrafted rookie Jalen Virgil, as well as last year's fifth-rounder Montrell Washington.
But Mims brings a more polished skill set to the table than, say, Hamler, Virgil, or Washington. Broncos GM George Paton talked about how Mims' tool kit evolved in his third year at Oklahoma.
“It was his third year," Paton said last week after drafting Mims. "I think he just evolved, and I just think he got better. His routes were crisper, and they lost some receivers, maybe. Maybe he was the focal point. I thought he wasn’t as productive two years ago, but we still liked him. He was still selling the speed."
In his final season with the Sooners, Mims totaled 54 receptions for 1,083 yards and six touchdowns. It was quite the spike in production after he notched 1,315 receiving yards combined over his first two years at Oklahoma, with 14 scores.
After studying the film, Paton definitely recognizes how the sausage gets made with Mims.
"The way he tracks the ball in the hands, the toughness in the run game for a guy who’s not that big," Paton said. "His transition after the catch on those screens. We just feel for his size, he’s really tough.”
Mims made short work of complimenting Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson upon being drafted. On the topic of his skill set, and perhaps what areas of his game he needs to work on as a pro, Mims highlighted his versatility.
“My best-known thing is I’m a playmaker," Mims said on Friday. "I’m very versatile [and can play] inside and outside. I played both about 50-50 at Oklahoma. I feel like one of my best things is stretching the field and just making big plays out of short routes, intermediate routes, all the different stuff—screen game. I’ve averaged around 19 yards per reception in my career and have been very reliable in the return game. With that stuff, I feel like I bring a lot to the team on different aspects. I’m just excited to get a chance to go out there and show it.”
It'll be fun to see how Broncos head coach Sean Payton utilizes his new offensive weapon. But Payton concurred with Mims on how he can impact Denver's special teams as a returner.
"He was a captain and face the program," Payton said of Mims. "His makeup was fantastic. He’s extremely intelligent, and you feel the top-end speed.
"When you have a guy like [Special Teams Coordinator Ben] Kotwica and [Assistant Head Coach] Mike Westhoff—we feel like he’s one of the best return coaches that’s ever coached in the NFL. To have a prospect come in and compete was exciting for us."
The Broncos will hold rookie minicamp next week. That'll be Payton and company's first chance to get their coaching fingerprints on Mims.
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