Jan 2, 2017; New Orleans , LA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Joe Mixon (25) runs the ball against Auburn Tigers defensive lineman Carl Lawson (55) in the third quarter of the 2017 Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Lions general manager expressed great disappointment that Joe Mixon was a Combine snub, but that doesn’t mean they’re interested.

Bob Quinn has made a habit of being tight-lipped regarding just about everything since becoming the Detroit Lions‘ general manager last offseason. That’s why it came as such a surprise that he would be so blunt in stating his disappointment that Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine.

Mixon has been a polarizing prospect after video was made public of at 2014 incident in which he brutally punched a woman in the face.

Just how interested the Lions might be in actually drafting Mixon has been left to speculation, with Quinn not even willing to say whether or not Mixon will be on their final draft board at all. Peter King’s Monday Morning Quarterback for this week list four teams most interested in Mixon, with the Lions not among them.

I’m hearing the Oklahoma running back, who had the 2014 incident of punching a female student in the face, has garnered the most interest from Cincinnati, Minnesota, Green Bay and Jacksonville. I won’t be surprised to see the Bengals take Mixon with the 41st overall pick.

Of course, not being among the group of teams “most interested” doesn’t necessarily mean the Lions aren’t interested. It does suggest, however, that there is likely to be a team more willing to make a controversial selection before the Lions.

If King is right and Mixon goes 41st, or somewhere in that range, it may not really matter just how much the Lions were interested in Mixon anyway. Even if they really liked him, it’s exceedingly unlikely they would consider making him the face of their 2017 draft class by making him their first pick and King’s feelers suggest Mixon could come off the board in the time between the Lions’ first and second round picks.

That should come as good news to Lions fans wringing their hands over the prospect of the Lions drafting Mixon. And for those fans who would be OK with drafting Mixon, there shouldn’t be any disappointment on missing out. A deep class of running backs means there are plenty of other options to find a good prospect in the middle rounds.