Sean Payton: Marvin Mims grew ‘exponentially’ as a player in 2024

Sean Payton was asked about Marvin Mims Jr. this week and he had some pretty positive things to say about the young receiver.

The Denver Broncos are in full offseason mode and with the Super Bowl around the corner, head coach Sean Payton found himself on radio row this week talking with Kay Adams on the Up and Adams Show. She asked him about Marvin Mims Jr. and Payton didn’t hold back on his praise of the young wide receiver.

“One player we saw grow exponentially this year would be Marvin Mims,” Payton said. “We saw him as a great returner a year ago. A pro bowl returner. There were a series of games this year where this receiver got better and better.”

There was a time earlier in the season when we just didn’t see Marvin Mims on the football field. The snap counts back this up with him breaking 20% on the snap count side of things just twice in the first eight games. However, by seasons end he was pushing 40-50% of the snaps on the field. A marked improvement.

It showed up on the statistical front too. After ten games, he had a measly 11 receptions for 69 yards and zero touchdowns. He looked like a bust. Then he caught fire and Sean Payton began to notice. Down the stretch he’d have two 100+ yards games and in just eight games (he missed a game late in the season), Mims piled up 28 receptions for a whopping 434 yards for a 15.5 yard per reception average and a respectable 6 touchdown receptions.

He double hit receptions per game, but quadrupled his yards per reception. In short, he became a dynamic and explosive threat on the field that was making defenses pay. It’s good to see a young player develop his game into a role that fits his draft position. I’m excited to see where Mims takes it next season.