Joe Mixon, Bengals Agree to 4-Year Rookie Contract

The Cincinnati Bengals and 2017 NFL draft pick Joe Mixon, a running back out of the University of Oklahoma, reached an agreement Friday on a four-year rookie contract.

Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network first reported the news. Adam Schefter of ESPN confirmed the deal is complete.

The Bengals selected Mixon with the 48th overall pick in April's draft. Schefter previously reported only four of the league's 32 teams said they even considered taking the offensive playmaker.

In December, Nolan Clay of the Oklahoman passed along graphic video from July 2014 released by Mixon's attorney, Blake Johnson, in which the Sooners running back punched Amelia Molitor, a female Oklahoma student.

Mixon settled a civil lawsuit less than a week before the start of the draft. Mike Florio passed along a statement the California native made about his conversation with the victim and his outlook for the future.

"I'm thankful Mia and I were able to talk privately," he said. "I was able to apologize to her one-to-one. The way I reacted that night, that's not me. That's not the way I was raised. I think she understands that. Talking together helps move us past what happened. I know I have to keep working to be a better person, and this is another step in that direction. I love working with kids, and I'm looking for more chances to do that kind of work. I want to lead a life that inspires them, and I hope I can lead by example from today forward."

After the draft, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis explained the team's decision to give Mixon another chance despite the disturbing video, per Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com.

"I don't know who isn't disgusted with what they saw. But that's one day in a young man's life, and he's had to live that since then and he will continue to have to live that, and he gets an opportunity to move forward and write his script from then on," Lewis said. "It's come to a conclusion with the young lady. They've come to their statements, her statement about how they both could've handled the day better. But again, that doesn't change it."

Mixon will likely spend his rookie season in Cincinnati as part of a backfield timeshare with Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard. He's got the potential to become a three-down rusher once the Bengals' logjam at the position clears out, though.