Joe Mixon is drawing plenty of interest from NFL teams, the latest of which being the New Orleans Saints.

Head coach Sean Payton told Nick Underhill of The Advocate that the Saints plan to bring in the embattled running back for a visit before the 2017 NFL Draft. Mixon has already met with at least a half-dozen other NFL teams, after being barred from this year's scouting combine in Indianapolis.

Mixon, 20, is the most controversial figure in this year's draft. He is an undeniably talented ball carrier, but he punched a female student during his time at Oklahoma and broke her jaw. The shocking altercation was caught on tape by a surveillance video.

Considering the NFL's focus on curbing domestic violence, Mixon's past raises a bright red flag. Any team that considers drafting him must weigh the risk against the reward. He may end up providing a great lift on the ground, but he's going to bring a lot of negative media attention at first.

At 6-foot-1 and 228 pounds, Mixon is a big back who crushed his pro day. He ran the 40-yard dash in under 4.5 seconds and posted great numbers in the bench press (21 reps), vertical jump (35 inches) and broad jump (9 feet, 10 inches). He possesses a rare blend of size, speed, power and explosion that NFL teams look for in a featured running back.

Some teams have reportedly taken Mixon off their draft board due to his assault in college. Payton and the Saints, who ranked in the middle of the pack last season in terms of rushing offense last season, will have to decide whether they're willing to weather the criticism and draft him this spring.

Follow Kevin Boilard on Twitter: @247KevinBoilard