Four draft crushes to help the Detroit Lions rebound in 2020

1. Denzel Mims, Wide Receiver, Baylor University-

The Detroit Lions have a sneaky need for a young wide-out to pair with current star wide receiver Kenny Golladay. With the possibility of wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. possibly leaving in free agency next year, it is important that any person who could step into his position has experience in the system and the NFL. Taking Mims this year gives him a year to learn from both Jones Jr. and Golladay before taking on a featured role in his second year.

Mims is a very good developmental wide receiver prospect who is currently being projected to go around the late second round to late third round in April. Mims could very well end up easily surpassing that draft grade and performing on par with the likes of a first-rounder.

Over his collegiate career as a starter (years two through four), Mims has caught 182 passes for 2,901 yards and 28 touchdowns. As is evidenced here, Mims would likely become a red-zone monster right off the bat as his combination of size, speed, and athletic ability provide him all of the tools needed to succeed in that role.

Being 6-foot-3 and over 200 pounds gives Mims a frame that is excellent at boxing out opponents and making contested catches. Often throughout his college career, Mims would bully an opposing corner at the point of attack and come away the victor of the battle. But Mims is more than just a big, jump-ball receiver.

Mims is also a fast receiver and should run in the 4.4’s during the NFL Combine. Mims provided multiple big plays over his years at Baylor, catching passes of over 50 yards multiple times.

While at the Senior Bowl he would often win his battles against the best competition they had to offer, winning 94 percent of his reps there and had the best grade of any receiver attending the all-star grade. He did all of this in front of Lions head coach Matt Patricia, who was his coach during Senior Bowl week.

The Draft Network’s Benjamin Solak wrote that Mims was an impressive receiver who has a huge catch radius and good hands. His pro comparison for Mims was current Lions star, Kenny Golladay. Imagine that; two Golladays manning the outside receiver positions for the Lions.

Throw in tight end T.J. Hockenson and an adequate slot receiver similar to how wideout Danny Amendola played this season and the passing offense is looking potent once again. Mims would be a good rookie wide receiver who would make his mark early in his career in the red-zone. Give him a year to learn behind the current starters and you’ll see him explode in his second year in the league, giving the Lions one of the best wide receiver duos in the league.