Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Marvin Mims has made the most of his limited snaps this season, totaling 535 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns on 23 touches, an impressive average of more than 23 yards per touch.
A large chunk of that production (276 yards) has come as a returner on special teams. On offense, Mims has played just 97 snaps. He’s been targeted only 12 times through six games.
Courtland Sutton (316 snaps, 37 targets) and Jerry Jeudy (210 snaps, 29 targets) have been far more involved on offense. So what’s the holdup for Mims?
“He’s doing well,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of Mims earlier this week. “We’re faced with a challenge sometimes of trying to find that balance with Sutton, Jeudy, Mims and the guys that we feel like can make plays in space. He’s on track, and we’re confident in how he’s handling the return duties but also his ability to make plays for us in the passing game. [We’re] trying to find that balance.
“We’ve had packages where both he and Jeudy are on the field at the same time opposite of one another. Again, that’s still a work in progress, but I don’t think it’s a work in progress specifically towards Marvin as much as it is for us finding packages and touches for him both in the passing game. Then also, he’s someone that can handle the speed sweeps, the arounds, and those types of things. He is really good with the ball in his hands.”
Payton himself said Mims is really good with the ball in his hands, yet the receiver is averaging just two targets a game. Something doesn’t add up.
Mims playing in a similar role as Jeudy might be part of the equation. With the NFL trade deadline (Oct. 31) approaching, Jeudy seems to be a strong candidate to be traded. If the team does end up trading Jeudy, that would instantly open up more snaps (and targets) for Mims.
Leading up to the trade deadline, it makes sense for the Broncos to feature Jeudy and Sutton in an effort to maximize their trade value. It’s passible that Mims could see his role increase in November after one or both of Jeudy and Sutton have been traded. That’s just speculation for now, though. The next two weeks will be interesting.
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