After a quiet start to his NFL career, Marvin Mims Jr. may finally be on the verge of a true breakout season for the Denver Broncos — and it all might have started with one electric night in Cincinnati.
Back in December, during a tightly contested overtime loss to the Bengals, Mims put together the best performance of his career: 8 catches on 8 targets for 103 yards and 2 touchdowns — both coming in the fourth quarter. One was a blazing 51-yard catch-and-run, the other a leaping grab in the final seconds of regulation that sent the game to overtime.
“It was really big for me,” Mims said after the game. “I think that game alone maybe gave the coaches a different way to look at me.”
And it seems they did.
A New Role in a New-Look Offense
Heading into his third season, the 2023 second-round pick has spent much of the offseason working alongside starters Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin, and is expected to have a larger offensive role in Sean Payton’s evolving system.
Mims has always shown big-play potential — he led the team in 2024 with three receptions of 40+ yards and caught both of quarterback Bo Nix’s 50+ yard touchdown passes. Despite limited usage early last year (12 or fewer offensive snaps in 5 of the first 7 games), he still managed to finish the season with 39 catches for 503 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Coaches have taken notice.
“He took that next step,” said Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi. “When we used him in different areas, he just took off.”
Getting Creative With Mims
Starting in Week 10 of 2024, Payton began using Mims in more creative ways — including lining him up in the backfield to get him on the field more often. The shift signaled that the coaching staff was ready to unlock more of Mims’ skill set beyond return duties.
“Not only for what it does for me personally,” Mims said, “but as a team I felt like we kind of had another thing on offense that could help get some things going.”
And while Mims continues to battle for targets in a crowded receiver room — which includes Sutton, Franklin, and promising rookie Pat Bryant — his versatility could be the X-factor that keeps him on the field.
Still a Force on Special Teams
Even with his offensive potential growing, Mims remains one of the league’s top return specialists. He led the NFL in punt return average (15.7 yards) last season and helped give Denver the best starting field position after returns (own 38.7-yard line).
And with recent kickoff rule changes moving the ball to the 35-yard line after touchbacks, special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi believes Mims will get even more chances to shine in the return game.
“It’s about keeping yourself ready — at returner, at receiver,” Mims said. “Get in the right spot every time, fight for the ball for Bo every time. That’s my mindset.”
The Verdict: Is the Breakout Coming?
There’s no question that Mims has the talent. His speed, hands, and vision have already earned him All-Pro honors as a returner, but what’s exciting now is how the Broncos are building him into their offensive plans. If the flashes we saw in late 2024 are any indication, Marvin Mims Jr. could become one of Bo Nix’s most trusted targets — and one of the Broncos’ most dynamic weapons — in 2025.
Training camp will be the proving ground, but one thing’s clear: Mims is ready for more.
