Throughout the offseason, we’ll be profiling players who may end up in Denver when all is said and done with the 2017 NFL Draft. The Broncos clearly have plenty of holes to fill before they get back to Super-Bowl form and we’ll be examining a long list of players they may choose to help the franchise do just that.
The path traveled to the 2017 NFL Draft for star running back Joe Mixon has been a rocky one, to say the least, but it could very well be coming to an end in Philadelphia this week.
Mixon, a five-star recruit out of high school, was suspended the entire 2014 season after breaking the jaw of a female student at a Pickleman’s Gourmet Café. The brawl in the café was allegedly started when Mixon and Co. were confronted by the female student about racial and homophobic slurs that were being said between both parties. Mixon can be seen on video shoving—then punching the student—causing her to fall onto the floor after hitting a table. Mixon received a one-year deferred sentence and was ordered to undergo counseling along with 100 hours of community service.
The Sooner standout would go on to have a successful two seasons at the University of Oklahoma, rushing for 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground. The duel-threat back is considered a first-round talent but has seen his stock fall sharply due to the events above.
Strengths
Mixon has the body of a professional athlete already, even though he will not turn 21 until late July. With the ability to show explosive speed and mobility at any given time, Mixon has been compared to Ney York Jets running back Matt Forte due to their shared size and sheer talent.
It is not only the running game that has fans of the young back talking; Mixon is also a legitimate receiver. No. 25 caught for 894 yards and nine touchdowns during his Sooner tenure and can be a devastating route runner; his hand-eye coordination is top notch while not losing speed in the route.
Weaknesses
His weaknesses on the field are few and far between but there is one that stands out more than the rest: ball control. Mixon fumbled the ball six times in two seasons at OU, including three against rival Texas in the “Red River Game” in 2016. He seems to struggle to keep his speed while changing direction. Both of these flaws can be fixed, however, with proper training.
How he fits in Denver
Joe Mixon has an ugly past but, with the right team, could be a superstar back in the league. Mixon would give Denver a true back, instead of just a speed runner, that could be used on all three downs and would help solidify the ground game for re-acquired offensive coordinator Mike McCoy. The Mile High Crew also could use a versatile weapon such a Mixon in the air on short down situations a la Tyreek Hill and Mixon fits the profile.
