Broncos' expert reveals which rookie will have the biggest impact in 2023
The Denver Broncos have a rookie that is projected to make a huge impact with the team in his rookie year, which is nothing but good news. A lot of people, including me, thought the pick to take Oklahoma wide receiver Marvin Mims was an odd one. I mean, the wide receiver room is not […]
The Denver Broncos have a rookie that is projected to make a huge impact with the team in his rookie year, which is nothing but good news.
A lot of people, including me, thought the pick to take Oklahoma wide receiver Marvin Mims was an odd one. I mean, the wide receiver room is not on the long list of needs this offseason, yet they traded up to go get one. They could have taken other guys that help the needs more, like maybe an offensive guard or even a safety. But, they didn't.
Now, that doesn't mean Mims won't be good, because I firmly believe that he will be a guy that can turn some heads because of his skill set. The only hard part is finding out who Mims replaces in the receiver room. They won't place a guy they traded up for in the second round on the practice squad. They will want him on the 53-man roster, so there is a chance they either add a spot for an extra receiver and take one away from another position, or they cut someone.
Either way, I think he can still have an impact in 2023, even if they maybe shouldn't have taken him that early. I'm not the only one who thinks that either, as one Broncos expert thinks that as well.
The current depth chart suggests wide receiver Marvin Mims might have a hard time seeing the field early. The Broncos have experienced depth in Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick, and others. But new head coach Sean Payton will design a very specific role for Mims that allows him to see the field, even if it’s not a high-volume role. His ability to stretch defenses, something he did effortlessly during each of his three seasons at Oklahoma, will make him an important puzzle piece as Denver tries to resuscitate an offense that finished last in scoring last season. — Nick Kosmider, The Athletic
The former Oklahoma receiver ended his 2022 season with over 1,000 receiving yards and six touchdowns. In his freshman year, he finished with nine touchdowns, his career high. Mims is a guy that showed he can do a little bit of everything.
When Payton and Paton were asked about one thing in particular that stood out to them about Mims, they let everyone know a plan they may have for him, and how exactly he could be an impactful player for the Broncos in 2023.
“Every year you look at the return game and you try and find who do we feel is the best punt returner in college football and then who do we feel is the second best and—we felt like there were two elite punt returners. The young man in Houston… and this was another,” Payton said.
But, that doesn't mean they don't have any plans to use him as a skilled position player. They do see something special in him in that aspect too.
“There’s a clear vision for the receiver. His traits. He’s got return skills. Character make-up. He’s smart. He’s someone that can play at Z, can play at X,” Payton said on Friday. “He brings an element of speed you can feel on tape. That vision around the room, there was no gray area relative to what we saw.”
As far as what he can do as a receiver – Mims can do a little bit of everything. He is a guy that has speed, and can use it in those screenplays Payton likes to use sometimes that we saw in New Orleans. Mims can also high-point catches and go up and get it, even if that isn't his best skill set. Mims will make plays at the next level, even if it takes some time.
This core group of receivers has been together since Jeudy was drafted, and every year it seems it never works out, whether it be a bad quarterback, one of the players being hurt, or something else. Adding Mims switching things up a bit, when they haven't really seen any major change at the position in a while.
Mims can make an impact, we just don't know exactly how yet. He can do it in a multitude of ways though.
