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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Cory Bonini

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Marvin Mims Jr., Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. declared for the NFL following a breakout junior campaign and is poised to be among the top five or so wideouts chosen in the 2023 NFL Draft.

He was rewarded for his efforts with first-team All-Big 12 honors by FBS coaches and was second-team selection from the Associated Press. Mims also earned second-team Academic All-Big 12 recognition.

Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 183 pounds
40 time: 4.38 seconds

Mims was a standout receiver in high school, too, setting Texas state records for career and single-season receiving yards, highlighted by a Tecmo Bowl-like stat line of 117-2,629-32 touchdowns as a senior.

Table: Marvin Mims stats (2020-22)

Year School Class G Rushing Receiving
Att Yds Avg TD Rec Yds Avg TD
*2020 Oklahoma Fr 11 37 610 16.5 9 2 17 8.5 0
*2021 Oklahoma So 13 32 705 22.0 5 1 15 15.0 0
*2022 Oklahoma Jr 13 54 1,083 20.1 6 2 3 1.5 0

*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)

Pros

  • Blazing-fast strider whose speed can sneak up on a defender in a hurry — several examples of him blowing past a cornerback to create laughable separation
  • Operates primarily from the slot but can move all over the field to create mismatches
  • Special teams returner experience
  • Can be game planned into any system to attack from all three levels and offers game-breaking ability even in a limited role
  • Great body control to catch passes in traffic by contorting to find the right placement
  • Tracks ball well down the field and has quality hands in general
  • Tough to overthrow
  • Competitive spirit who is a known for a strong work ethic

Cons

  • Limited route experience, which can make him easier to game plan against early in his development
  • Needs to incorporate a wider variety of moves to shake press coverage at the line of scrimmage
  • Lacks ideal size in jump-ball situations, despite sporting a healthy 39 1/2-inch vertical
  • Doesn’t have the kind of wiggle and agility some may expect to see from a receiver with his explosiveness

Fantasy football outlook

A really fair athletic and stature comparison is Chicago Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney. Now, due to situational reasons, Mooney hasn’t been utilized as much as a downfield much as his skills suggest, but their traits are extremely similar.

Mims, a probable Day 2 selection, doesn’t profile as a true WR1 in the pros. He should make for a strong second option and could serve as dangerous vertical threat, like Hollywood Brown. In Year 1, regardless of where he lands, Mims could have a few plays per week designed to take advantage of his raw speed. It doesn’t take much route knowledge to run a nine route or catch a screen and run like the wind.

Mims’ likeliest long-term outlook is that of a low-volume, big-play type. That will help keep him involved in most settings, but it makes for a frustrating go of it in fantasy. At best, Mims is a late-round flier in conventional fantasy drafts. He’s more suited to offer matchup-based utility in daily fantasy action.

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