Packers Hosting Another First-Round Offensive Tackle Prospect on Predraft Visit
Georgia's mammoth Amarius Mims, who allowed just one pressure in 2023, is set for a predraft visit with the Green Bay Packers.
With the free-agent departure of Yosh Njiman and the release of David Bakhtiari, it would appear Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst is sending a message with some of his pre-draft visits.
The Packers are on the hunt for an offensive tackle.
Shortly after hosting Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton on a predraft visit, the Packers reportedly are hosting another first-round prospect before this month’s draft.
Georgia’s Amarius Mims, a massive right tackle, will visit the Packers, according to Easton Butler.
Here’s a closer look.
Who Is Amarius Mims?
Mims is an absolute mammoth of a man, measuring 6-foot-7 3/4 and 340 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. His 36 1/8-inch arms are by far the longest of the top tackles in this draft. With excellent testing numbers in the 40-yard dash and broad jump, his Relative Athletic Score was 9.58.
Mims played two seasons at Georgia but, with just eight career starts, did not log a lot of snaps. The Packers have typically valued offensive linemen having more experience in college and would have to overlook that with Mims.
He finished his final season for the Bulldogs giving up only one pressure in 168 pass-protecting snaps. All of his starts came at right tackle, which could be his best path once he gets to the NFL.
How Amarius Mims Fits?
Mims is going to be a first-round pick. The only question for the Packers would be whether or not they want him to play immediately.
Typically, they have not done that with rookies under coach Matt LaFleur, with the 2023 season being a clear exception in regard to a youth movement.
Mims likely needs some time to find his footing in the NFL due to his lack of experience in college. The good news for the Packers is they have two tackles they likely feel good about if they had to play a game tomorrow.
Right tackle Zach Tom was arguably the team’s best player on offense a season ago and looks to be one of the new stalwarts in this new age of Packers football.
Whether he plays right or left tackle could be up for discussion, but a year after experimenting with him at center, it appears Tom has proven himself to be more than capable at tackle and should likely stick there.
Tom did play left tackle in 2022 when David Bakhtiari was injured, so it’s possible the Packers could look to install him there with a full offseason to train at his new position.
Rasheed Walker replaced Bakhtiari after Week 1 and played well down the stretch. He delivered lights-out performances in the postseason against Micah Parsons and Nick Bosa. When discussing pass rushers, those are two of the best in the business.
Walker had his struggles during his first full season as a starter. That’s to be expected. There are big decisions to be made, however, that could impact this team for years to come. The question regarding Walker is whether the team views him as the left tackle of the future or a placeholder for a long-term solution.
If Walker is viewed as the answer, he would likely start at left tackle and Mims would start his career in the swingman role occupied previously by Nijman.
The learning curve at right tackle, should Tom need to miss time, should be shorter. Left tackle, however, could take some time.
Mims would be a heartbeat away from playing. As LaFleur often likes to say, he wants to get his best five offensive linemen on the field.
Round Projection for Amarius Mims
The late Ted Thompson often said that the good Lord only made so many big men that can move the way Mims does. That statement rings true as Mims enters this process.
If the Packers want Mims to be one of their offensive tackles, they’ll have to use the 25th overall pick at a minimum.
It’s possible with the athleticism and background of playing at Georgia, something we know some general managers value, that Gutekunst would have to trade up once again to get his man.
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