You cannot talk about Joe Mixon without talking about “it.” Specifically, the “it” is Mixon, the Oklahoma running back hitting a female, breaking four bones in her face and completing a suspension for the 2014 season. Above all, a video and incident will follow him for the rest of his life. Regardless of how much he has tried to move past the incident, teams may still be concerned with his character. Despite the immense talent Mixon possesses, his off-field behavior has forced teams to remove him from their draft boards.
You cannot talk about Joe Mixon without talking about the raw talent. In addition to, the hips that turn on a dime and the explosiveness he shows with each yard gained. In fact, if you take the judicial issues off the table, Mixon is as talented as any other running back in this draft. Some NFL official said he would be the first running back off the board if not for “it.”
At some point, some team will draft Mixon, more than likely in the second or third round and give him a chance to show his contrition and help a football team win games.
In this player profile, we will look at the strengths and weaknesses of Mixon as he moves on to the next level. We also include a few teams that will be interested in adding help to their running game.
Strengths
He can excel with ease. Moves from first to the third level quickly. He is able to pick up large chunks of yards each time he touches the ball. Joe Mixon has threatening home run abilities with each carry and excels as the game wears on. Mixon can get the tough yards and pound through the defensive line. He is elusive with an ability to change direction effortlessly.
Weaknesses
Character issues. Overlooking these may be concerning. The video released was gruesome, causing some teams to take him off their boards completely. His approach to the game is sometimes uninspiring. He needs to work on his decision-making to hit the hole and move forward. Needs to work on planting and running instead of dancing at the line of scrimmage.
Teams Interested
Green Bay, Detroit, Jacksonville, Carolina, Seattle, New England, Cleveland