CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES
RANKING THE VIKINGS NEEDS
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN’S DRAFT TRADES
VIKINGS TARGETS
LUKE INMAN’S MOCK DRAFTS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL
FEATURES FROM OUR STAFF
DENZEL MIMS
HEIGHT/WEIGHT/AGE
6-foot-3
207 pounds
22 years old
BIG PICTURE
A former four-sport athlete in Texas, and a former high school quarterback at one point, Denzel Mims came to Baylor as a three-star recruit with all the physical tools. He emerged with a 1,000-yard receiving season as a sophomore, then added another as a senior with 12 touchdown receptions (28 for his career). Mims was a Senior Bowl standout and NFL Combine winner with the best 3-cone time. He’ll need to curb his dropping habit in the NFL.
COMBINE NOTABLES
4.38 40-yard dash (T-3rd)
16 bench reps
38.5-inch vertical
131-inch broad jump (T-4th)
6.66 3-cone drill (1st)
4.43 20-yard shuttle
VIKINGS COMPATIBILITY RANKING
4.5 out of 5. Productive. Big-bodied. Speedy. It’s hard to imagine why the Vikings wouldn’t be interested as they look to replace Stefon Diggs.
HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT DRAFT EXPERTS SAY
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Mims is a long-striding outside target with excellent height, weight and speed and an insane catch-radius. He’s a touchdown threat anytime he’s near the red zone, with the focus and body control to finesse and finish catches above the rim. He struggles to release and separate from physical press corners, and he doesn’t consistently compete and outwork opponents for positioning on contested catches. If the route work and intensity catch up with his natural athletic ability, he could become a dangerous “Z” receiver in a vertical offense, but the floor might be lower than some teams are comfortable with.”
Benjamin Solak, Draft Network: “Denzel Mims is a strong Day 2 candidate for a team looking to develop a starter at the X or Z receiver position. Mims has a catch radius the size of Mars, with unfathomable leaping ability, tremendous concentration and body control in the air, and the hand strength to snag and secure balls at the very extent of his considerable frame. While he doesn’t have amazing vertical push in his routes, it is more than sufficient to threaten man coverage and regularly open up back-shoulder windows outside of the numbers. Mims’ impressive athletic profile also lends itself to flashes as a route-runner and in releases against press coverage, though a continued increase in upper body strength as well as route discipline will iron out the existing kinks. Mims is a candidate to contribute in Year 1 and start in Year 2 as his route tree expands and flourishes.”
WHAT PFF SAYS
7 drops (T-278th)
20 contested receptions (T-2nd)
Only 81 slot snaps in career
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES
RANKING THE VIKINGS NEEDS
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN’S DRAFT TRADES
VIKINGS TARGETS
LUKE INMAN’S MOCK DRAFTS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL
FEATURES FROM OUR STAFF