Colts Reportedly Still Considering Running Back Joe Mixon Despite Character Concerns

According to Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, the Indianapolis Colts haven’t ruled out selecting Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon, as the highly talented, yet potentially troublesome prospect reportedly remains on the team’s draft board just ahead of the NFL Draft.

Along with considering Mixon, the Colts are also expected to target a pass rusher early in this week’s draft as well per Miller:

"“Indianapolis Colts: New general manager Chris Ballard has remade the team through free agency, giving the Colts the freedom to go with a best-player-available approach,” writes Miller. “As for needs, my scouting source said edge-rusher should be targeted in Round 1. This is another team that has Mixon on its board.”"

There’s no question that purely from a talent perspective, Mixon is one of the best running back prospects in this year’s class–having been ranked as NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock’s 5th best player at the position.

However, there are lingering character concerns, as Mixon once punched a female student in the summer of 2014–an incident in which he was suspended the season for, but has since formally apologized for (for what it’s worth).

It’s been reported that some teams have taken him off their draft board completely, while other teams like the Colts could be contemplating ‘rolling the dice’, banking on his talent and potential, and betting that he’s indeed matured.

As a matter of fact, Ballard has previously said that he’s not going to rule out any prospect ahead of time because of a pre-conceived notion of ‘bad character’. Rather, he and his scouting staff will evaluate each potentially troubled prospect on a case-by-case basis before deciding whether that player is draftable:

"Mar 1, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard speaks to the media during the 2017 NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports“Look, guys make mistakes, so it’s our job as an organization, and I’ve mentioned this before, tune out the (noise),” said Ballard last Wednesday in his pre-draft press conference.“I don’t care what everybody else thinks and (what) their opinions are. Make our opinions internally. Do our work internally and make sure we exhaust it with the player to know what we’re getting with him when he enters the building, and then how he’s going to be in the community also. It’s a case-by-case basis.”"

The 6’1, 226 pound running back is coming off a sophomore season for the Sooners in which he rushed for 1,274 total rushing yards on 187 carries (6.8 ypc avg) and 10 rushing touchdowns, as well as caught 37 receptions for 538 receiving yards and 5 touchdown receptions. Not to mention, Mixon also had 21 kick returns for 494 kick return yards (23.5 kr avg.) and a touchdown return.

His ‘do-it-all’ play earned Mixon First-Team All-Big 12 honors in 2016.

During last year’s special season, Mixon set the Sooners single-season record for all purpose yards (2,331) and all purpose yards per game (194.3).

Here’s his NFL.com Draft Profile:

"Sep 3, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Joe Mixon (25) celebrates his touchdown against the Houston Cougars at NRG Stadium. Houston Cougars won 33 to 23. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY SportsDRAFT PROJECTIONRound 2-3SOURCES TELL US“I’m not going to talk about any character issue because every team has to go through and make their own decisions. As a player, he can play all three downs but he’s not going to create for himself like Fournette or Cook. But he can also have an impact on the passing game that they can’t have. I see him as a top-40 player. Obviously, he won’t go there.” — NFC North area scoutNFL COMPARISONLe’Veon BellBOTTOM LINEI’ve decided to give Joe Mixon a draft grade based on his talent and expected output if given a chance as an NFL running back. His draft slot will likely be impacted by his domestic violence issue. Mixon has the talent to be an every-down, all-day running back with the potential to take over a game on the ground or through the air. Life against weaker Big 12 defenses has created a more relaxed rushing approach for Mixon who will have to play at a faster pace as an NFL back. Mixon’s vision is just average and he could struggle to create for himself in front of a subpar offensive line; however, he can play in any rushing scheme and can be moved all over the field as a matchup option."

Here are some other ‘hot takes’ on Mixon as well:

While selecting Mixon in the first round seems like a huge risk, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see a team take a gamble on the highly touted running back in the early rounds 2-3. Then again, it wouldn’t necessarily be a shock to see Mixon fall into the mid-rounds either. However, my guess is that he doesn’t last much longer than the early 2nd round given his top tier talent.

Obviously, the Colts could use a long-term answer at the running back position.

Veteran starter Frank Gore turns 34 years old in May, and the Colts do not have any young promising successor currently to groom behind him.

It’s worth noting that the team did re-sign ‘3rd down’ and ‘short-yardage’ specialist, Robert Turbin, but he’s best suited in a situational role rather than as an every-down back.

Next: Report: Colts Rumored to be Interested in Florida Linebacker Jarrad Davis

If the Colts selected Mixon, perhaps he could be mentored for a season by one of the game’s all-time best in Gore before fully taking over the reins in 2018.

That being said, it wouldn’t be out of the question for Mixon to win the starting job outright in training camp, as he has that type of game-changing talent to be a difference-maker from the get-go.