2020 NFL Draft: Denzel Mims flies into first-round conversation at combine

After an incredible combine performance, Denzel Mims has to be in the first-round conversation for the 2020 NFL Draft.

The 2020 NFL Draft is loaded at the wide receiver position. Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb and Henry Ruggs III all lead the way at the position as potential top 10 picks, while guys like Tee Higgins, Laviska Shenault Jr., Jalen Reagor, Justin Jefferson, Brandon Aiyuk and KJ Hamler have all also been considered possible first-round selections for a while now.

After his incredible performance at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, former Baylor wide receiver Denzel Mims now has to be in that same first-round conversation.

Mims is a big receiver who measured in at 6-foot-3, 207 pounds at the combine. It is also important to note his long arms, which measured out to 33 7/8″ long. Mims has absolute vines for a wide receiver which leads to an impressive overall catch radius on the outside.

While his size on the outside is impressive, pairing it with his incredible overall athletic ability is what makes Denzel Mims such a tempting 2020 NFL Draft prospect. Mims consistently showed off his incredible overall athleticism on Thursday night, making it impossible to ignore him as a potential first-round pick.

The number that immediately stands out is Mims’ 4.38 in the 40-yard dash. He was tied for the third-best 40-time of all wide receiver prospects. Obviously, it is great to see Mims run such an impressive 40-yard dash, but that is just the start of his incredible performance.

Mims’ 6.66 three-cone drill time was the best of any wide receiver at the combine. His ability to move like that in short spaces helps tone down one of the most obvious concerns of his game on tape. Mims did not show the most impressive short-area quickness on film, but the dominant three-cone time does show major potential improvement in that area.

On top of his incredible running times, Mims also performed well in the jumping drills. His 10-foot, 11-inch performance in the broad jump was good for the fourth-best of all the wide receivers, while his 38.5-inch vertical leap was tied for the eight-best at the position.

Simply put, Mims showed incredible natural speed, quickness and overall explosive athleticism at the combine on Thursday night. Based on his tape and production (66 receptions for 1,020 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2019), Mims was already an interesting Day 2 prospect at the wide receiver position. With his performance at the combine, teams now must go back to the tape and consider him as a prospect with a much higher ceiling.

Make no mistake about it,  Denzel Mims should be under consideration for teams picking in the back half of the first round in the 2020 NFL Draft.