Perhaps the draft's most controversial player. Mixon's off-field issues are mixed with enormous talent.

On the field, Mixon began to make a name for himself after being reinstated in 2015, totaling 1,109 total yards and 11 touchdowns on 141 offensive touches, immediately showing off his big-play ability in his first game when he broke loose for a 76-yard TD reception - the longest catch ever by an Oklahoma freshman running back. He finished his freshman year as the team's second-leading rusher (753) behind Samaje Perine (1,349). Mixon essentially split carries with Perine in 2016, but that didn't stop him from overshadowing his teammate, as the former outgained the latter on the ground by 214 yards despite nine fewer carries and finished second on the team in receptions (37). Among the many notable achievements during his sophomore campaign, Mixon became one of only two FBS players since 1996 with three receiving TDs and two rushing scores in one game AND the first player in Oklahoma history to log 200 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in the same game when he shredded Texas Tech in a contest Perine missed due to injury. Two weeks later, Mixon earned himself a one-game suspension after an incident with an officer in which he received a parking citation, tore it up and threw the pieces of the citation in the officer's face before getting in his vehicle and eventually trying to intimidate the officer with the vehicle. Mixon returned the following week and played the final four games of the season without any further issues, and he ended the season trailing only Christian McCaffrey for the FBS lead in all-purpose yards per game (195.6).

High-end NFL Player Comp(s): David Johnson
Low-end NFL Player Comp(s): DeShaun Foster

Best Scheme Fit: An offense willing to be creative, play matchups and/or believes in one-back sets. Mixon may evolve into a runner who is willing to follow his fullback into the hole, but there is no evidence of that yet simply because Oklahoma didn't give him that chance. He has the patience to be successful in a one-cut zone-running system, but he might be risky in a power-based scheme.

Note: All times listed in parentheses in strengths/weaknesses section reflect the start time on video - via Draft Breakdown - that displays that skill/trait.

Strengths

• Effortless pass-catcher (0:15, 1:47, 2:50, 4:10) with unique ball skills for a running back (3:43, 4:53, 5:36) and a solid route-runner (3:16) who can be flexed all over the formation to serve as mismatch for linebackers in coverage. (0:14, 2:35, 2:50, 5:36, 5:38)
  
  
• Above-average balance (1:53) with the feet to string multiple moves together. (1:06, 2:42)
  
  
• Rare hip flexibility for bigger back (0:01, 4:38), allowing him to sidestep sudden penetration (1:34, 2:23) and leave defenders grabbing for air. (3:22, 3:54, 4:26, 4:38, 5:32)
  
  
• Usually waits to set up his blocks (1:29, 3:22, 3:28) and shows a second gear when he senses he is in the clear (5:06, 8:17); ranked tied for first among FBS running backs in 2016 with 26 scrimmage plays of 20-plus yards and first with 15 scrimmage plays of 30-plus yards.
  
  
• Not afraid to run inside despite obvious elusiveness on the perimeter; can be special when he gets a runway. (2:57, 3:22, 5:06)
  
  
• Doesn't always utilize the soundest technique but generally gets the job done in pass pro. (1:27, 4:07)
  
  
• Enters the league with very little wear-and-tear (300 career carries, 65 receptions) and provides versatility as kick returner. (0:18)

Weaknesses

• Aforementioned off-field history.
  
  
• Average vision (5:27), which can cause him to miss backside cuts, particularly on stretch plays. (0:52, 2:05)
  
  
• Occasionally dances in the backfield when the play calls for him to run straight ahead. (4:18)
  
  
• Inconsistent inside runner who doesn't always pick up yards after contact most would expect a back his size to do. (1:10, 1:59. 5:24)
  
  
• Fumbled on 2.2 percent on offensive touches in 2016, career fumble percentage (1.6) still about twice as high as evaluators like.
  
  
• Ran almost exclusively out of the shotgun in college.

Bottom Line

Let's address the elephant in the room right away: Mixon made a very bad decision as an 18-year-old which will almost assuredly follow him for at least the early part of his NFL career, if not beyond. To his credit, he worked his way back to earn the trust of the Oklahoma coaching staff after serving the one-year suspension for the incident and became a team leader in his final two seasons by most accounts. By no means does it erase what he did, but it speaks to the possibility he may have learned a lesson and just how hot the spotlight can be.

Regarding his on-field exploits, keep in mind Mixon is only a 20-year-old back coming out of a pure spread offense who has missed an entire season of football. In other words, there is a very good chance he has not fully developed into the runner he will eventually become. Considering he had only 365 offensive touches in his two seasons as a Sooner, it is quite possible that will prove to be the case. There is also something else to consider: think about how good a player has to be in order for a coaching staff to give more work to a back like Mixon this season than his teammate (Perine) who broke the FBS single-game rushing record as a freshman two years earlier and finished his career running for over 1,000 yards in each of his three seasons.

At this point, Mixon is undoubtedly an all-purpose threat and a big play waiting to happen. Whereas the Sooners failed him in terms of showing whether or not he could be a truly disciplined runner, they did a fine job of accentuating just how dynamic he is in the passing game. Given his overall body of work - or lack thereof - and the aforementioned character issues, he should be considered no better than the No. 4 overall back in this class - even if he rivals Leonard Fournette and Cook in terms of talent. Fournette, Cook and McCaffrey each assumed workhorse roles at their respective programs, while Mixon did not (granted Perine had something to do with that). With his off-field history thrown into the mix, it's little wonder why he will likely not be a first-round selection. He does possess special upside, however, and the Johnson comparison above isn't as much of a stretch as some might believe, especially for a 225-pound young man who has the feet and hips of a player roughly 15-20 pounds lighter (like Johnson).