Steelers to Reunite National Championship Duo
Amarius Mims, a Georgia offensive tackle, is projected by Pro Football Network’s Dalton Miller to be selected by head coach Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft by the Georgia Bulls.
The NFL draft in 2024 is still a long way off. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ requirements for the next draft are becoming more apparent.
On both the offensive and defensive lines, the Steelers could use some assistance. Inside linebacker and cornerback are still needs, much like in previous years. Of course, depending on how the organization perceives Kenny Pickett’s future, quarterback is a wild card position that Pittsburgh may consider.
Dalton Miller of Pro Football Network predicted on December 9 that the Steelers would select another offensive tackle from Georgia with their first-round pick — Amarius Mims.
Kenny Pickett’s career won’t necessarily be saved by Amarius Mims and Broderick Jones getting back together, but it will give the Steelers a better idea of whether they can put together a team around Pickett that can help him with his current problems, according to Miller.
“Mims was injured in 2023 and played very little in 2022, yet despite his inexperience, he has been amazing on the field. James Daniels’ growth curve might be aided by playing next to him.
Jones was chosen by the Steelers with the 14th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. In his most recent mock draft, Miller had the Steelers choosing Mims with the 23rd overall pick.
Jones and Mims began the 2022 Georgia college football playoff season together at left and right tackle, respectively. In 2022, the Bulldogs won their second consecutive national championship and went unbeaten.
The Potential Benefits of Amarius Mims for the Steelers
Like 6-foot-5, 311-pound Jones, the Steelers would land a man who is a mountain in Mims. The NFL scouting staff at Bleacher Report reports that the 6-foot-7, 340-pound prospect for the 2024 draft is available.
During his time at Georgia, Mims occasionally showed off his exceptional raw power behind his frame.
For the Bulldogs, that may not have translated into as much production as it could have. However, Mims’ ankle problem persisted throughout the 2023 season.
Mims might end up becoming the object of desire for teams searching for an offensive tackle who can be a real mauler in the run game.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said on X, “Watch UGA OT Amarius Mims vs. Ohio St if you want to have some fun.” He glides incredibly well and possesses a ton of raw power.
“This is how he looks when healthy, but he missed time this year with an ankle & tape is so/so.”
The Steelers may be positioning themselves to have top-notch edge protection for the next ten years if they selected Mims or any other offensive tackle to go with Jones in the first round of the 2024 draft.
Only in Week 9 did Jones establish himself as a consistent starter in the Steelers offensive lineup. But since then, he’s shown great promise.
This season, Pro Football Focus has awarded the rookie a player grade of 65.2 (out of 100). He is barely behind Isaac Saumalo, the top-ranked offensive lineman for the Steelers according to PFF, who has a 2023 grade of 68.7.
Will Broderick Jones of the Steelers move to left tackle?
Will Jones be moved to left tackle if the Steelers choose to pick another offensive tackle in the first round? That is the key question.
Jones might already be Pittsburgh’s best left tackle. However, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has him playing right tackle this season since Dan Moore Jr. is a much superior player on the left side than the right.
It would be clear that Moore is no longer in the team’s long-term plans if the Steelers select Mims in the draft.
Since the Steelers selected Moore in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft, he has only missed two games. However, Moore’s performance on Pittsburgh’s blind side has been inconsistent, especially this year.
With a PFF score of 57.5, he is the starting offensive lineman for Pittsburgh in 2023 with the lowest grade.
Once more, a lot will happen before the NFL draft in 2024. But, Steelers supporters will find it intriguing if Moore is replaced by one of Jones’ college colleagues.
