Overview
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 206 pounds
School: Baylor Bears
Combine Performance Data
40-Yard Dash: 4.38 seconds (tied for third-best among wide receivers)
Vertical jump: 37 inches
Three-cone drill: 6.66 seconds (best at 2019 Combine)
Denzel Mims 2020 NFL Draft Profile
Denzel Mims’ path from overlooked recruit to one of the top receivers in the 2020 NFL Draft is nothing short of amazing. Considered a three-star prospect coming out of high school, Baylor and Texas Tech were the only teams in the Power 5 to show any interest. The Texas native ultimately chose Baylor and went on to become a dangerous weapon in the passing game for three seasons.
After struggling to make an impact as a freshman, Mims exploded onto the national scene during his sophomore season. Coming out of seemingly nowhere, Mims ended the season with 61 receptions on 112 targets for 1,087 yards and eight touchdowns. The Baylor product took a minor step back as a Junior but still looked like one of the better receivers in the game. Mims ultimately ended his collegiate career on a high note, recording 66 receptions on 113 targets for 1,015 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Interestingly enough, Mims might have never had the chance to play wide receiver if it weren’t for a high school injury. The Texas native was a quarterback through his first three years of high school but transitioned to wide receiver and running back after suffering a shoulder injury while playing baseball. His athletic prowess didn’t stop there, as he also played basketball and track at a high level during his high school days.
Strengths
- Makes some of the greatest catches you’ll see from anyone in this draft class;
- Above-average contested catch specialist;
- Physical tools give him the potential to be a star at the next level;
- Can beat press coverage off the line of scrimmage;
- Hard to slow down in the open field;
- Tested well during the NFL Combine;
- Multiple years of high production at the collegiate level.
Weaknesses
- Below-average route runner;
- Unreliable hands – 18 drops over the past two seasons;
- Ran a limited route tree in Baylor’s offense;
- Struggles to consistently gain separation;
- Concentration drops over a multi-year span suggest this issue will follow him to the NFL;
- Unpolished receiver who will need time to develop;
- Strictly an outside receiver – only lines up in the slot on rare instances.
NFL Comparison: N’Keal Harry
Teams With Need at Position: Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles
Projection: Late second/early third
Bottom Line on Denzel Mims
Denzel Mims is a freak athlete with a skillset that doesn’t always translate to the NFL. At 6’-3” and 215 pounds, the Baylor product has the ideal size and athleticism for the position. He makes ridiculous catches and excels at overpowering defensive backs and winning at the point of attack. He’s dangerous in the open field and isn’t a one-year wonder.
Having the ability to win contested catches is great, but it’s hard for that skill to translate to the next level. Historically speaking, receivers that can separate and run routes at an above-average level in college tend to see more success at the NFL level. This is going to be an issue for Mims, as the NFL Draft hopeful had one of the least impressive route trees of any major draft prospect. Even though he makes some of the best catches you’ll ever see, he also suffers from “concentration drops” on what should be easy passes.
Mims’ athletic profile makes him worthy of a Day 2 pick, but he’s anything but a finished product. If he’s going to succeed in the NFL, he’ll need some time to develop. He could be a solid red zone threat in the short-term, but nobody should expect Mims to be a Day 1 starter.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
