Steelers' Top Draft Target Amarius Mims Would've Benefited From Different Path

The Pittsburgh Steelers, have been hard at work, addressing their needs this offseason. However, as we look ahead to the 2024 NFL Draft, it's evident that there are still significant gaps to fill. Fortunately, this year's draft is leaning towards being very offense-heavy, aligning with the Steelers' needs, particularly in the trenches.

According to almost every expert, another offensive tackle is at the top of the team's needs list. This tackle should slot into the right side of the line so second-year talent Broderick Jones can move to the left where he belongs. While General Manager Omar Khan did some rebuilding of the offensive line in 2023 by bringing Isaac Seumalo, more is needed. 

The name that consistently emerges paired with the Steelers is Amarius Mims from the University of Georgia. Mims, a natural right tackle, would fill a crucial position and reunite with his former Georgia teammates, Jones, George Pickens, and Darnell Washington, promising a solid and cohesive offensive line for the Steelers. 

Ramon Foster, a well-respected former Steelers guard, has long advocated drafting Mims. His endorsement carries weight, given his experience playing on one of the best offensive lines in Steelers history. Foster's admiration for Mims was recently validated when he shared his thoughts with Daniel Jeremiah, a draft expert from NFL Network. 

Foster shared the conversation with his co-host, a Pittsburgh sports reporter, Dejan Kovacevic. Their show, The Ramon Foster Show, airs on DK Pittsburgh Sports. After sharing his thoughts on Mims with Jeremiah, Foster was surprised by some of Jeremiah's responses. 

According to Foster, Jeremiah said he can only evaluate players based on what is out there. Mims has limited tape because he had TightRope surgery and was injured at the NFL Combine. Jeremiah said he has to be able to give an honest assessment. 

"If I take him out of this year's draft and I place him in the '25 draft, he's a top five pick," Jeremiah told Foster.

The fact that Mims played for Georgia is both a blessing and a curse for him. Foster pointed out that besides the injuries, he was depth behind two other first-round tackles. In 2022, Mims was used as a relief player, and then in 2023, he played in seven games, starting six of them. 

Jones was in a similar situation when the Steelers drafted him last year. He got his shot in 2022 when he played in all games that season at Georgia. While the Steelers allowed Jones some time to settle into his role as a pro, he more than proved himself by successfully playing out of his normal position. 

"It wasn't like he didn't play; he got in the rotation, played a part in the National Championship, came back this year after being injured, and just couldn't make it through the game because he came back too soon. He has a level of grit about him and has every intangible you want as a premier right or left tackle," Jeremiah added.

Kovacevic, who has been more dubious about Mims due to the limited playing time, admitted that he had watched him play again and was impressed. He said Mims possesses skills or traits that you can't coach. He shared that on one play, he saw Mims run to the right to support his running back, and he almost got there before the running back did. 

Foster thinks it is a no-brainer to select him. You start him immediately across from Jones on the right side, or put him behind Dan Moore Jr. and allow Mims to ease his way in. He sees a guy like Mims as necessary for our future because Moore is a free agent after this season.    

Steelers' Dan Moore Jr. Isn't Getting Enough Credit

If you ask almost any Steelers fan for their opinion on Moore, you will likely hear something you can't repeat in polite conversation. During the 2023 season, Pro Football Focus graded Moore a 51.7. This and some of his struggles on the field had fans calling for his replacement. 

However, some offensive line experts, like Duke Manyweather, defend the fourth-round pick. Manyweather said that the PFF grade does not accurately reflect what was shown on the field. He noted that Moore is a solid member of the line. He is impressed that Moore seems to improve every season, so he is clearly putting in the hard work.

This was definitely true after Jones was drafted. To try to keep his starting spot, Moore reportedly trained hard before OTAs. The major downside to Moore, and this apparently can't be easily rectified, is that he lacks flexibility. Flexibility is something Khan said they were prioritizing in 2024. Moore can only play on the right side of the line, which means that Jones must be played out of position to accommodate him. 

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