Thanks mainly to Jordan Love swiftly becoming one of the top quarterbacks in the league, the Green Bay Packers won’t have to draft a new player just to fill a specific position on the team.
Love 's rise gives the Packers hope that they can compete against the Detriot Lions in the NFC North, and even make it to the Super Bowl this autumn.
The young and talented group of receivers that general manager Brian Gutekunst put together also adds to the team's optimism. Additionally, the Packers have a strong defense thanks to the emergence of up-and-coming star player Xavier McKinney, at safety.
Because the team has a young and skilled roster around Love, they are in a good position to pick the most talented player. In the latest 2024 NFL mock draft by Adam Rank, the Packers select Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims with the 25th overall pick.
“You have a great opportunity, Packer Backers,” Rank comments for NFL.com. “You have 11 picks and no clear needs. No older players either, because even though you have a franchise steeped in tradition, you have no sentimental value for anybody. (Maybe a bitter Bears fan talking? Perhaps.) I’d go with Mims here because he has very special abilities. He could eventually become a dominant force in this league, and you have the time to allow that to happen.”
One of the most important things for the Packers to have a successful postseason is to protect Love, and Mims would be a significant improvement for the potentially new offensive line.
Amarius Mims NFL Draft Scouting Report
Mims may not be the most experienced offensive line prospect this year, but his athleticism and great potential, combined with a huge 6-foot-7 and 340-pound body, could make him a great fit for the Packers because Green Bay can be patient while he develops.
Still, Pro Football Focus notes that Mims didn't let a sack happen in three years in college, playing 682 snaps in a college career that was affected by injuries.
“He is a powerful player who can hold blocks well with good upper-body strength,” PFF comments. “Mims is more smooth than explosively athletic, which reduces some of his impact in contact.
“His footwork is also somewhat slow in protecting the passer, leading to some awkward movements and setting up too far forward.”
Meanwhile, NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein compares Mims to standout Super Bowl champion offensive tackle Donovan Smith, after the Georgia standout ran a strong 5.07-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
“A talented tackle prospect with a great frame and impressive NFL qualities,” Zierlein explains. “Mims uses pretty good technique and is ahead of the game with hand placement. He has the size and flexibility to make progress and enough athleticism to make blocks while moving, although he can be inconsistent in that area.
“He uses a two-hand punch that makes him lunge forward a bit, but that can be fixed. It's very rare to see him clearly beaten by a rusher, and he has the skills to recover when it does happen.”
Are the Packers focusing on improving the Offensive Line?
Given how much the Packers have invested in Love have invested in Love, and what the burgeoning quarterback means to Green Bay’s future, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Gutekunst and Co. put a heavy emphasis on the offensive line during this year’s draft.
Rasheed Walker is penciled in as the Packers’ starting right tackle, but, the former Penn State standout has a long way to go in terms of becoming a long-term anchor along Green Bay’s offensive line.
“I thought he had a really good year,” LaFleur told reporters during the NFL Annual Meeting. “I think there’s a lot of room for improvement, just in terms of a consistency standpoint. You know, playing 70 plays at a high level. We’ve seen some great flashes from him. He’s certainly athletic enough to do it. So it’s going to be a big offseason for him, but he’s a guy we’re certainly confident in.”
Adding Mims as competition for Walker, or, perhaps slide into the void left behind by Jon Runyan, who inked a $30 million contract with the New York Giants during free agency.
