Amarius Mims is flying under the radar as an emerging star for the Cincinnati Bengals.
His steady presence at right tackle may not be grabbing the headlines like Joe Burrow or Ja’Marr Chase, but he could be quietly becoming a cornerstone of Cincinnati’s future.
Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher recently said that the rookie “goes much of the game unnoticed – in a good way”.
Quite an achievement for a 6-foot-8, 340-pound human.
Untested but unfazed
With just 29 games and eight starts over three seasons for Georgia, the 18th overall draft pick was a relatively untested prospect.
Coming out of college, there were questions about his lack of experience. Concerns about his injury history also resurfaced when he missed a chunk of preseason.
But during his time with the Bulldogs, he never gave up a sack or a quarterback hit. And with the Bengals, he has been ever present since Week 2.
In his first NFL campaign, Mims has faced some of the league’s premier pass rushers in Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons and Maxx Crosby.
Despite the baptism of fire, the rookie has held his own, allowing just four sacks and 31 pressures across 757 offensive snaps.
His height and agility have proven particularly effective in neutralising outside rushes, though he has shown some vulnerability to inside moves from more experienced defenders.
His size and strength have also made him a solid run blocker, helping to create lanes for Chase Brown.
The trajectory is promising and on Sunday, against the Tennessee Titans, he had his best game yet. Mims led all rookie offensive linemen in pressures allowed, with zero pressures on 38 pass block snaps.
Ability matched by ambition
Mims is obviously not the finished article by any means. And while there is clearly still room to improve, the 22-year-old’s attitude and work ethic are admirable.
“My time will come,” he stated recently, demonstrating a mature perspective for one so young.
“As long as I keep getting better every step, I will be fine.”
His aim is clear: “Just make people hate you… not want to line up against you.”
And it feels like he is starting to make good on that promise already.
