Marvin Mims Jr. Shows Inconsistencies on 2022 Game Film

While Marvin Mims Jr.’s statistical production increased in 2022, his share of struggles on game film also dramatically increased.

I was poised to have Mims as a possible first-rounder based on his 2021 game film (when I gave him a first-round grade), but I can’t do it with what he put on game film against Nebraska and TCU. I liked him so much off his 2021 game film, I even compared him to my favorite receiver of all-time, Gary Clark.

What a difference a season can make.

He did have a decent game against Kansas State, and he blew the doors off Kent State, but at First Round Mock, game film drives everything, and a couple bad looking games drops Mim’s final grade as we head toward the 2023 NFL Draft.

Route running looked off

This is one of the main things that jumped out at me is the timing between Mims’ quarterback and him seemed noticeably off.

When the timing is off between a quarterback and receiver, it falls on both of them. However, the issue I take with Mims is he didn’t look sharp (and he appeared too labored) at the route breakpoints, which caused issues creating needed separation at times.

Against Kansas State, he took off down the left sideline and gave up inside route leverage. The corner had way better positioning on the pass and he looked like the intended receiver. Mims couldn’t get up over the top to even contest for it.

There was another time when he ran an outside route too far to the inside.

There were couple of deep passes that were overthrows, when he didn’t get there in time.

Contested passes

This didn’t sit well with me either.

There was one against Kansas State where Mims got tied up at the breakpoint and couldn’t make the catch. There was another one against TCU where the same thing happened.

Passes off his hands

This happened a couple of times as well – – when catchable passes were not caught.

It happened on a deep pass when the ball was right there and should’ve been caught.

Another time, it went off his hands at the intermediate level.

Yards after the catch

Even when Mims did catch the ball, he was often tackled right after the grab, in this block of game film study.

He did make his share of catches, but I didn’t see him as much of a threat afterwards.

To his credit, he did ran tough and did his best to maintain his balance.

What does this do to Mims draft stock?

Nothing screamed first-round on this block of game film study.

I can’t put too much stock in the Kent State game.

Mims is still a No. 2 receiver with developmental upside. The inconsistencies really threw me for a loop.

He gave off a feeling of being very distracted, which is backed by a reduction in his catch-to-target percentage.

Something was off this season. There seemed to be a lack of communication and trust between the his coach (in terms of play calling), his quarterback (with the timing) and him. It felt like all three were on three different sheets of music.

#17 Marvin Mims Jr. 5-foot-11, 184 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2023 NFL Draft Grade: Fourth-Round (I would not select him)

Projected by 10.5% (down from 14.5% on December 3) of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of January 27, 2023

First Round Mock Big Board: TBD

Level of competition: Moderate

2022 game film reviewed: Nebraska, TCU, Kansas State, and Kent State (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2021 stats: 32 receptions (41 targets and a 78% catch rate) 705 yards (22.0 avg.), 5 TD, 67-long

2022 stats: 54 receptions (91 targets and a 59% catch rate) 1,083 yards (20.1 avg.), 6 TD, 77-long

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Receiver with decent hands and athletic ability with above-average straight-line speed and a short-area burst. Mostly average looking release and breaking off routes. Did show flashes of suddenness. Inconsistent gaining needed separation. Caught all the short stuff. Not afraid to go across the middle, but struggled against tightly contested passes intermediate and deep. Did show ability to accelerate some. Inconsistent deep but could get a step. Willing to block and stick his nose in or body shield.

Final words

This one hurt my heart to evaluate and write up. I was not expecting to see this game film. Mims looked like a different player.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock.For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.