NFL Draft rumors: Joe Mixon visiting Buccaneers
By Conor Myles
The talented but troubled Joe Mixon has spent some time visiting the Buccaneers this week.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the latest team to put their name in the mix in the Joe Mixon sweepstakes.
The former Oklahoma Sooners running back was reportedly in Tampa Bay this week visiting with the Buccaneers brass with only a couple weeks left until the 2017 NFL Draft.
Oklahoma RB Joe Mixon made a visit to the Bucs this week, sources say. With the Doug Martin situation developing, that's interesting.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 7, 2017
Mixon has been well documented for his off-field issues, most notably a domestic violence investigation that led to a video of him striking a female in the face going viral.
The talent of Mixon has been well noted as well, as many draft analysts have Mixon as one of the best running backs in the 2017 NFL Draft running back class, and teams seem to view Mixon in the same light still showing interest in the troubled prospect even with his off-field issues.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote a very in depth scouting analysis of Mixon and compared the running back to Pittsburgh Steelers star Le’Veon Bell.
"“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.”"
The Buccaneers do currently have a talented running back in place with Doug Martin, but his future with the team and even in the NFL is murky at the moment.
Martin, who’s struggled to stay healthy throughout his five seasons in the NFL, will miss the first three weeks of the 2017 season finishing a suspension for violating the league’s PED policy that carried over from the 2016 season.
Martin also announced late this past December that he’s taking time away from football to enter a drug treatment facility.
The Buccaneers re-signed Martin in March of 2016 to a five-year deal worth up to $35 million, but can also release him and save $5.7 million against their 2017 salary cap, which might be considered especially given their interest in Mixon.
Next: 2017 NFL Mock Draft: Jets, Browns get their quarterbacks
We’ll see if the Buccaneers ultimately decide to invest in this highly touted draft class at running back and depart with their former first-round pick Martin after all his recent struggles.