When evaluating draft prospects, the NFL Scouting Combine is just one fraction of the pie used to determine where a player should be selected in the NFL Draft. Coaches, executives, and scouts use Combine data to make informed decisions on draft day. Though over 300 players participated at the Combine this year, there were only a few who were impossible to ignore.
Throughout the week in Indianapolis, the Pittsburgh Steelers loaded up on formal visits with players at a range of positions including linebacker, cornerbacks, and wide receivers. However, it was the offensive tackle group that was particularly interesting this year.
Ahead of the Combine, this was considered a remarkably strong and deep offensive tackle class. This was confirmed following their performances on the final day of workouts. There are a handful of excellent OT prospects that undoubtedly go in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but one polarizing prospect is sure to have the undivided attention of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Steelers are going to be high on OT Amarius Mims
Amarius Mims is one of those players who did not go unnoticed. It's hard to ignore a player of his size, and It's not hard to see why the Steelers are going to have interest in taking him with the 20th overall pick this year.
At 6'7 3/4'' and 340 pounds, Mims has a rare frame for an offensive tackle and he carries his weight remarkably well. But the reasons to be infatuated over the first-round OT prospect don't end here.
To go with his outstanding size, Mims' arms measured in at 36 1/8'' to go with 11 1/4'' hands. This length will help keep pass rushers at bay with ease, as Mims' frame will be among the rarest at the position in the NFL.
Here's where things get wild.
Not only does Mims have an unmatched frame, but he also tested as an unbelievable athlete in respect to his size. According to Kent Lee Platte, Mims posted a Relative Athletic Score of 9.50 -- placing him in the 95th percentile of all offensive tackles to enter the league.
Amarius Mims is a OT prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.50 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 67 out of 1314 OT from 1987 to 2024.
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 4, 2024
Splits Projected, previous tweets deleted to avoid confusion over his shuttle.
https://t.co/dfLN9i8JN1 pic.twitter.com/bPU1dEHbMX
This elite combination of size, length, and athletic traits will go a long way with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not only does Omar Khan place a big emphasis on the trenches, but so does assistant GM, Andy Weidl. During his time with the Eagles, Weidl worked with Lane Johnson and helped draft mammoth OT Jordan Mailata.
Before drafting Broderick Jones in the first round last year, the Steelers were one of the teams in the running for free agent OT Orlando Brown Jr. (who ultimately inked a deal with the Bengals).
Khan and Weidl have a type. The value length and strength at the OT position, and Mims has a leg up on the rest of the competition in this year's class in each of these categories. The one factor that remains to be seen is whether or not the new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, will be as fond of these huge offensive tackle prospects as Khan and Weidl seem to be.
Either way, it's safe to assume that the Pittsburgh Steelers will be enthralled with a polarizing offensive tackle prospect with unmatched potential like Amarius Mims, and the fact that he is projected to go right around where they are picking in the first round makes this all the sweeter.