Gut Reaction: Broncos Trade Up Into Round 2 for WR Marvin Mims Jr.

Did the Denver Broncos make a good pick after trading up into the second round of the 2-2023 NFL draft?

The Sean Payton era in Denver is in full swing following a fast and furious free agency period. The Denver Broncos' fiery new head coach is collaborating with GM George Paton to select the next crop of players in the 2023 NFL draft.

Broncos Country painstakingly waited to see which prospects would be welcomed into the Mile High City since the team entered this year's draft without a first or second-round pick. After watching and waiting for the first round of the draft to end on Thursday night, the Broncos made a huge splash by trading up into the second round on Friday.

Denver traded up from No. 67 in the third round to the last pick (63) of the second and selected Oklahoma wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. The Broncos relinquished picks 68 and 138 to the Detroit Lions in exchange for No. 63 and 183.

What should Broncos Country make of this trade-up and the player? Let's dive in. 

Measurables/Stats

The Sooner star measures in at 5-foot-11 and 183 pounds. He's a speed demon who clocked an official 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. 

Mims played in 37 career games at Oklahoma and recorded 123 receptions for 2,398 yards, and 20 touchdowns, averaging an impressive 19.5 yards per catch.

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Resume

The 21-year-old leaves Stillwater, OK, as a first-team All-Big 12 selection and a second-team All-Big 12 choice by the Associated Press. Mims also brings a dynamic special teams element to Denver as he returned both kicks and punts during his college career. 

As a senior, Mims averaged 16 yards per punt return, earning honorable mention All-Big 12 Conference honors specifically for that responsibility. As a native Texan, he was a high school star who set state and national records for receiving yards. 

He was highly recruited by powerhouse programs like Notre Dame and TCU, and was committed to Stanford before opting to become a Sooner. Mims majored in finance and became the first receiver in Oklahoma history to earn multiple Freshman All-American honors and quickly became a valuable offensive weapon. 

Skill Set

Mims' athleticism and instincts are superb for a route runner who’s still developing a complete knowledge of the route tree. Studying his film immediately reveals an over-the-top threat with elite vertical speed. Mims’ style of play allows him to create moderate separation, and his eyes consistently challenge safeties.

Although he’s somewhat undersized for the prototypical wideouts of the modern era, Mims plays with exceptional hand strength and doesn’t shy away from physicality with defensive backs. Expect to see him utilized as an inside/slot receiver in Payton’s offense who will complement Russell Wilson’s quick decision-making.

Gut Reaction

I’ll be the first to admit that the selection of Mims surprised me. The news of the Broncos trading into the second round all but signaled that an offensive lineman would be en route to Denver. 

Instead, Mims joins a deep wide receiver room with Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, and Jerry Jeudy. Payton has previously dismissed rumors that Sutton and Jeudy are on the trade block, but the handpicked selection of Mims could signal that a new era is being created at wide receiver.

Expect Mims to immediately make the push as a special teams returner and possibly become the starter by the end of training camp. His natural athleticism and competitiveness will immediately push his veteran teammates, but he’ll also be tasked with grasping Payton’s offense in a hurry.

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