CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals, seeking an offensive tackle who can play in front of franchise quarterback Joe Burrow for years to come, chose huge Georgia tackle Amarius Mims in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday night.

The 6-foot-8, 340-pound Mims, a gifted pass protector, played seven games and suffered a high ankle sprain that required surgery in his third year at Georgia in 2023.

The Bengals lost tackle Jonah Williams to Arizona in free agency. They have Orlando Brown Jr. on the left side. They signed 10-year veteran Trent Brown to a one-year contract to play on the right side, but at 31 he’s not seen as a long-term solution.

“We were excited he was there at 18,” Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said. “We think we’re a great fit for him, with acquiring Trent and having Orlando there to help with his processing as he comes to the NFL. His traits are immeasurable, if you’ve ever seen him walk through a door. There’s a lot there to work with that we’re really excited about.”