The Bengals Are Actually Serious About Winning
Kareem Elgazzar / Imagn Images
The Cincinnati Bengals have had a very talented team the last couple of years, but this is the first offseason, they’re proving how serious they are about winning. This isn’t to say the Bengals didn’t make moves to try and improve the team the last few years, but their moves this offseason show a new level of drive towards winning the Super Bowl.
There is no looking back now at the decision to take Ja’Marr Chase back during the 2021 Draft. He’s a true game-changer on offense. But during the draft, there was a lot of internal discussion about taking Penei Sewell, who has become one of the best tackles in the NFL. Back in April, Sewell signed a contract extension that will keep him in Detroit through 2029 and pay him $112 million, the most ever for an offensive lineman.
During the 2020 season, Joe Burrow was sacked 20 times, and stability on the offensive line was a major need. Instead of deciding to get more protection for Burrow, they decided to get him another weapon. It made the offense more exciting, for sure, but sacrificing the offensive line to do that is maybe that is why Cincinnati hasn’t quite gotten over the hump yet.
Fast-forward to this offseason and the 2024 NFL Draft. The Bengals had plenty of options for the 18th overall pick, but they finally decided to get their franchise-stabilizing offensive tackle, Amarius Mims.
Bengals offensive line coach Frank Pollack has been around a lot of big guys during his day, and he is 6-foot-5 himself. He’s still at a loss for words for Mims’ size. Heading into the NFL draft, Mims was listed at 6-foot-8 and 340 pounds, and he has a wing span of 86 inches.
“He’s huge. A monster. Humungous,” Pollack said. “His measurables have to be at the top of the league. His hands are a smidge over 11 (inches). His (arm) length is 36 and change. His wing (span) is 86 and change. It’s ridiculous.”
Mims might be big, but he is also athletic, and he doesn’t move like someone who is 340 pounds. His reach is also something that has shown up in all of his films, and he knows how to use it to his advantage.
“He can move. He can run. He’s athletic. How is that possible?” Pollack questioned. “And he uses it with his length. That’s what you want, especially on the edge. Some guys are long and have good length, but they don’t use it. It’s a moot point if they don’t use it. He uses it.”
Mims has dealt with injuries that limited him to eight career college games, but the Bengals felt very comfortable because of all the tape they saw on him, even during practice. Over the last few seasons, the Bengals have made several trips to Athens, Georgia. They weren’t always there to scout Mims, but he was the one that they couldn’t stop talking about when they left.
“We circle it on our calendar whenever we go there because we know we’re going to see some high-end talent,” Brown said. “And then (Mims) would show up every time. Anytime you get a guy coming out of that program with how they train, how they develop players, it puts you at ease going to guys coming out of that system. There were a lot of great defensive players Amarius was able to go against.”
The playmakers for Burrow are important, but if he can’t stay upright, it doesn’t matter. If Chase, Tee Higgins, and others don’t have time to get open, it limits how explosive the offense can be. Last season, Bengals quarterbacks were sacked 44 times, and although some were on Burrow and Jake Browning, many of the problems were on the offensive line. The Bengals still managed to get Burrow another weapon with Jermaine Burton in the third round, but the most important pick was undoubtedly Mims.
The last few years have been exciting for Cincinnati, but fans should be especially excited about what they did this offseason. At some point the Bengals are going to make it over the hump and win that Super Bowl, at least that’s what the fans hope. Getting Mims shows that the team is serious about turning those hopes into reality.
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