Bengals Lineman Mims Poised for 2026 Breakout

Second-year tackle Amarius Mims could be Cincinnati's next star on the offensive line.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 12:07pm

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After a strong finish to his sophomore season, Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Amarius Mims is being pegged as a potential breakout candidate for 2026. Pro Football Focus analyst Dalton Wasserman highlighted Mims as the Bengals' top early 2026 breakout player, noting his improved play down the stretch that saw him earn an 81.0 PFF grade from Week 12 through Week 18, ranking 13th among qualified offensive tackles.

Why it matters

The Bengals' offensive line has been a key focus for the team in recent years, and Mims' development could be a big boost as they look to build around star quarterback Joe Burrow. If Mims can build on his late-season surge, it would solidify the right side of the line alongside potential free agent signing Dalton Risner.

The details

Mims, a second-round pick in 2024, posted a career-best 67.6 PFF grade on 1,050 snaps (835 as a rookie) in 2025. Wasserman noted that after "a season and a half full of consistent struggles, Mims may have turned a corner late in the season, potentially changing the complexion of Cincinnati's offensive line." From Week 12 through Week 18, Mims earned an 81.0 PFF overall grade that ranked 13th among qualified offensive tackles, and he did not allow a sack across his final eight games.

  • Mims posted a career-best 67.6 PFF grade in the 2025 season.
  • From Week 12 through Week 18 of the 2025 season, Mims earned an 81.0 PFF overall grade that ranked 13th among qualified offensive tackles.

The players

Amarius Mims

A second-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024, Mims is a young offensive tackle who showed significant improvement in the second half of the 2025 season.

Dalton Wasserman

A Pro Football Focus analyst who identified Mims as the Bengals' top early 2026 breakout candidate.

Joe Burrow

The star quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, whose development the team has been focused on building around in recent years.

Dalton Risner

A potential free agent signing who could partner with Mims on the right side of the Bengals' offensive line.

Duke Tobin

The director of player personnel for the Cincinnati Bengals, who expressed confidence in the team's championship-caliber roster.

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What they’re saying

“After a season and a half full of consistent struggles, Mims may have turned a corner late in the season, potentially changing the complexion of Cincinnati's offensive line.”

— Dalton Wasserman, Pro Football Focus Analyst

“We still have a championship team, in my mind. We have elite, world-class players. We had a lot of challenges this year. We didn't navigate them effectively enough. We navigated some of them as effectively as you could, and then we had challenges elsewhere.”

— Duke Tobin, Director of Player Personnel, Cincinnati Bengals

What’s next

The Bengals will look to re-sign Dalton Risner to a new contract, which would lock in the entire starting offensive line for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Amarius Mims' late-season surge in 2025 has positioned him as a potential breakout star on the Bengals' offensive line in 2026, which could be a key factor in the team's championship aspirations as they continue to build around quarterback Joe Burrow.