Amarius Mims needs big leap for Bengals to avoid worst-case scenario

The Cincinnati Bengals need a big season from second-year tackle Amarius Mims in front of Joe Burrow.

While much of the focus has been on the defensive overhaul for the Bengals this offseason, the fact they didn’t do much for the offensive line beyond the initial coaching change has managed to sneak its way into the background.

Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine, though, pointed out that the team’s worst-case scenario is the offensive line once again failing Burrow:

“If Mims isn’t drastically improved, if Dylan Fairchild isn’t ready to play right away as a third-round pick or if Lucas Patrick just isn’t a real upgrade, then Cincinnati will again have to ask its dynamic trio to bail it out.”

It’s spot on, too. The Bengals paid up big on Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, which was the right move. Making a rookie and a mid-tier free-agent signing the only new options at the guard spots is a major problem.

There’s hope that new Bengals line coach Scott Peters will help overhaul the scheme of the running game and interior line play overall.

But that, fittingly, leaves Mims on the edge as a huge x-factor on the right side. He showed major promise last year and might’ve won the starting job out of camp were it not for a poorly-timed injury, so his not continuing to notably ascend could create a major negative domino effect.

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Amarius Mims needs big leap for Bengals to avoid worst-case scenario

Amarius Mims needs big leap for Bengals to avoid worst-case scenario

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