Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban didn't hold back when discussing Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick Amarius Mims during ABC's broadcast of the NFL draft on Thursday night, questioning why the talented offensive tackle only made eight starts during his Georgia career.

"Everybody has their own opinions of me," Mims responded on Friday while speaking with reporters. "I don't really care about what he said or what he had to say, honestly. I'm just glad to be a Cincinnati Bengal."

Here were Saban's full remarks:

"This guy's got all the tools—he's got great size, he's got great power. ... But it makes you wonder, how did the guy only start eight [games?] Like, in the SEC championship game, he played only the first 15 plays of the game and then he's out. Takes himself out. I don't know what he injured, what he hurt, whatever. But you've got to be a little bit more consistent in your performance if you're going to be a great player and a starter in the National Football League."

"... One of the things that I see in guys—he went to a small high school. He was always bigger and better than everybody else. So do you ever really develop the traits that you need to have to compete against guys that are as good as you? He's gonna play against guys that are as good as him, now. So if he didn't develop those habits, he better focus on them now."

While Mims is focusing on his future with the Bengals and not Saban's comments, he paid his respects along the way.

"I got a lot of respect for Coach Saban, even when he said that," he told reporters. "He's one of the greatest college head coaches. It is what it is."

Mims is an interesting case. He suffered an ankle injury during the 2023 season that required "tightrope" surgery and cost him six weeks, though he was able to return to the team. He then re-aggravated the injury in the SEC Championship Game loss against Alabama.

The B/R NFL Scouting Department ranked Mims as the fourth-best offensive tackle in this year's draft and the No. 24 overall prospect, describing him as a "towering figure with a rocked-up build, big hands and very good arm length. He is an easy, smooth mover with fluid redirect skills, range and body control."

But that scouting report added that the one-year starter "needs to be coached up with his positional leverage, footwork and sustain skills before reaching his full potential."

Those factors contributed to a somewhat mixed reaction on social media after the selection, even if adding more talent in front of Joe Burrow was a need:

There's little doubt that Mims enters the NFL with some serious question marks given his overall lack of starting experience. But the physical tools are just as hard to ignore. If he reaches his upside, Burrow and the Bengals will be thrilled with the pick for years to come, doubters be damned.