5 prospects 49ers can draft to upgrade the offensive line
By John Porter
2. Amarius Mims. . Amarius Mims. 814. Amarius Mims. . player. . Offensive Tackle
No. 2: Amarius Mims, Georgia
Perhaps the highest-ceiling player linked to the 49ers, Amarius Mims is a neophyte offensive tackle coming out of the storied Georgia program.
Pro Football Focus mocked him to San Francisco in their latest mock draft, with Gordon McGuinness having the following to say about him:
"Mims has all the talent to go well before this, but his lack of experience — he has played just 803 snaps in his college career — pushes him a little further down the board for me. He earned PFF grades above 70.0 in all three seasons of his career and moves way better than you would expect for a player who weighs in at 340 pounds."
- Gordon McGuinness, Pro Football Focus
There's certainly no doubting Mims' talent level. In many ways, he projects similarly to Jordan Morgan: being a good mover at a large size and an excellent run blocker. Also, the talent level he has played with and against suggests he would have few issues stepping up to the next level. When he's been on the field, he's been consistent, and there's no question, given his upside, that he's one of the top prospects who could be available at pick No. 31.
What holds Mims back as a prospect is the fact that he hasn't been on the field all that much. He's quite raw, and because he's entering the draft after his junior season, he's played significantly less football than some other prospects in the class.
This probably explains his volatile positioning in mock drafts, with some having him go as high as the top 15, whereas some have him falling to the Niners' pick at 31.
His potential is very high, and while the thought of a high-upside player so late in the first round is nice, it would not be hugely surprising if a team working in its Super Bowl window such as the 49ers would turn their hand to someone who would lend immediate help in a more experienced, plug and play starter.
There's a scenario where the Niners see him as a long-term Trent Williams replacement, rather than an immediate Colton McKivitz upgrade, however, so he remains a strong possibility.