3 Teams That Could Pick Joe Mixon In The NFL Draft

In terms of pure talent, Oklahoma Sooners running back Joe Mixon should be one of the first backs taken in the NFL Draft and an unquestioned first round pick. However, a 2014 incident in which he punched a woman in the face is severely impacting his draft stock. What teams could take a chance on him? Here are the three teams most likely to do so:

1) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs are expected to be targeting a running back in this draft with the uncertain future of Doug Martin with the team, and Mixon is someone who could come in and take over as a three-down back. He ran mostly out of shotgun sets at Oklahoma, but has proven to be effective running both between the tackles and on the outside. Plus, his pass-catching ability would give this explosive offense another dangerous weapon - and give Jameis Winston a reliable checkdown option.

2) New England Patriots
Barring a trade, the Patriots wouldn't be able to get Mixon until the end of the third round, and there's a very good chance he doesn't last that long. However, if he does, New England may bounce. Without a first or second round pick in the draft, Mixon would give them a first-round talent and become their lead running back (LeGarrette Blount is a free agent). The Patriots have routinely shown they will take top talent no matter what (drafting Aaron Hernandez, signing Michael Floyd after a DUI), and they could do that again with Mixon.

3) Cleveland Browns
Cleveland needs help where ever they can get it, so they may be willing to look past Mixon's off-field history because of what he can provide for them on the football field. Isaiah Crowell is firmly entrenched as their starting running back, but he's not a burner and is still developing as a receiving threat out of the backfield

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