If there was a true bright spot that has been consistent throughout the season so far for the Cincinnati Bengals, it would be right tackle Amarius Mims playing practically perfect.
Mims has shut down every pass rusher he has gone against so far. That list includes the likes of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter from the Houston Texans.
It also includes T.J. Watt from the game on Sunday with the Pittsburgh Steelers. That performance caught the eye of Brandon Thorn — one of the best offensive linemen
evaluators — who has high praise after Mims incredible start, calling him a top 5-to-6 right tackle in the NFL.
“This is a top 5-6 RT in just his 3rd season,” said Thorn.
The knock on Mims during the draft process was that he couldn’t stay healthy. That always seemed unfounded considering he never even had a major knee injury. Just some moderate to minor injuries that popped up near the end of his time in college and during the draft process itself. It also created a lack-of-experience concern, but he never had an issue in the SEC.
That’s why the Bengals may have gotten the steal of the draft at No. 18 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He has hit what many called his high ceiling of potential. Those kinds of picks haven’t always worked out, but it is clear they nailed this one if Mims can stay healthy.
The only question that comes now is if he eventually gets moved to left tackle. Orlando Brown Jr. has struggled a bit with some of the quicker rushers in the NFL, and it has showed up quite a few times over the years, but he is far from being an unacceptable starter. It may come down to whether they feel the move can be made, and how much exactly they end up having to pay him when that contract needs to be redone. Because he surely should push for elite tackle money, but left tackle will always get more in that area.
That is a long-term discussion, though. We get to enjoy him as an absolute dominant offensive tackle right now.
