NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 02: Joe Mixon #25 of the Oklahoma Sooners warms up prior to playing the Auburn Tigers during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 2, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Most controversial star of the NFL Draft is shooting up draft boards

Talent trumps trouble, again.

Joe Mixon is one of the top running back prospects of the 2017 NFL Draft, but drafting him includes taking on some major baggage.

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Mixon punched a woman in the face while playing for Oklahoma. Despite that, he is still expected to be drafted no later than the third round of the upcoming draft.

Related: Joe Mixon speaks out on video of him punching a woman, NFL draft status during media session 

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said on ESPN's Mike and Mike that there's "no shot" Mixon slides past the third or fourth round of the draft. Mixon wasn't included on Kiper's first-round mock draft, but he said Mixon could come off the board to the Pittsburgh Steelers or Green Bay Packers in the first round.

"If you don't take him there, you probably won't get him late in the second," Kiper said Wednesday. "All it takes is one owner to sign off on him. No shot he drops (to third or fourth round)."

CBS has Mixon as the No. 5 running back in the draft, and they project him as a third-rounder. ESPN has Mixon as the No. 70 overall player.

Mixon rushed for 1,274 yards and 10 touchdowns last season at Oklahoma.

(h/t 247Sports)