Did Draft Target Impressive Combine Put Him Out of Reach For Cowboys?
Before the offensive linemen underwent their testing and on-field drills at the NFL Scouting Combine, Georgia Bulldogs offensive tackle Amarius Mims was a polarizing prospect, consistently being mocked around the Dallas Cowboys pick at 24th overall.
Just days later, Mims’ stock is bound to skyrocket.
Mims lacks the track record of some of his early-round tackle peers. Notre Dame’s Joe Alt and Penn State’s Olu Fashanu are destined for the top 10, and with eight starts under his belt, Mims’ inexperience is the biggest factor holding his draft stock back.
Jan 9, 2023; Inglewood, CA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Amarius Mims (65) and offensive lineman Tate Ratledge (69) against the TCU Horned Frogs during the CFP national championship game at SoFi Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
However, Mims’ film was promising and the measurables were eye-catching. He needed to prove at the Combine that he moves as well as the tape suggests, and it’s safe to say he exceeded every expectation.
Mims measured in at 6-7 (and three-quarters) and 340 pounds, a mark that feels fictitious when compared to the rest of his athletic profile. His 5.07-second 40-yard dash is in the top 13 percent of tackles and his splits weren’t far behind, helping encapsulate his burst off the line of scrimmage.
Hitting those benchmarks, blowing them out, and doing so at his size will carry serious weight as the NFL Draft cycle continues.
Mims is less raw than his experience would suggest and was the best lineman on a team that won two championships in three years. Injuries will cause hesitation and the film isn’t as clean as Alt or Fashanu, but Mims could not have had a better week for his stock.
Barring something unforeseen, the likelihood that Mims is available when the Cowboys pick may have taken its final dip. Teams love upside, and when prospects have the pre-draft circuit Mims is having, they become less hesitant to pull the trigger on it.
Replacing tackle Tyron Smith will be a chore and an important one at that. But Dallas’ dream of landing a lineman of Mims’ potential and athletic profile may be in the rearview mirror.
