There's no question that Denver Broncos receiver Marvin Mims Jr. showed flashes of impressive play in his first year with the team.
However, after an explosive Week 2 when he earned 113 yards and a touchdown, followed by a nice Week 3 with 73 yards, Mims sort of fell off in Denver's offense. He notched just a handful of catches from Weeks 5-14 and earned just 38 percent of the team's offensive snap counts for the entire 2023 season.
During the combine this past week, Broncos coach Sean Payton took responsibility for Mims' up-and-down appearances on offense by explaining Mims' lack of usage.
"Look, with Mims we saw him first as a returner," Payton said. "And I really think the only thing that really stopped his progress as a receiver was us in trying to find roles. He’s playing the same position as Jerry (Jeudy)."
Mims was indeed tremendous as a returner, racking up 16.4 yards per return on punts and earning a kick return touchdown in 2023. Mims was named Second-Team All-Pro and made the Pro Bowl as a returner.
However, the Broncos likely didn't draft a receiver in the second round to just be a returner, however important that role may be. Luckily, Payton expects Mims' offensive role to increase in 2024.
"I think you’re going to see a lot of growth with this player," Payton said. "Every time we put his name on a certain play he hasn’t disappointed. That doesn’t mean the ball always went to him. But the point I’m making is I think his progress was hampered a little bit more with the depth in the room and what we were able to do in sometimes trying to balance that out. I think we’ll see that expand."
There will be hurdles for Mims in 2024 regarding the offense, however. The Broncos are expected to keep Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy on the roster, and could easily justify drafting another wideout in the 2024 NFL Draft. There's also the quarterback situation — with the Broncos expected to release QB Russell Wilson, who will be throwing to Mims and those other receivers mentioned?
Ideally, Payton backs up his words and features Mims more in the offense in 2024, but it remains to be seen whether WR depth and QB play will again get in the way of that promise.
Shout out to Chris Tomasson for the press conference transcription.
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