Joe Mixon  is the third running back the Bengals have taken in the second round in five drafts.

There are times agents want their client to go as high as possible in the NFL Draft.

And there are times like Friday night when veteran representative Peter Schaffer wanted his guy, embattled Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon, to go  a certain kind of a town and a team.

So when Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis texted Schaffer as Baltimore was picking Houston linebacker Tyus Bowser at No. 47, he felt a surge of relief. Mixon, under intense scrutiny for an ugly 2014 incident in which he broke a woman's jaw after they exchanged words, was a Bengal even though he wondered when they traded out of No. 41 to get an extra fourth-round pick.

"There's no question I think it's a great place for him," said Schaffer, who also represents cornerback Adam Jones. "It's a family environment. A small town large city where players are embraced as members."

Schaffer goes back with the Bengals 26 drafts, when they took Colorado pass rusher Alfred Williams in the first round. He also repped Bengals all-time leading rusher Rudi Johnson.

 "The truth is I think the Bengals are a great organization. I really do think they care about the people involved in  it," Schaffer said.  "When I called Joe and told him Marvin was going to call, I didn't hear anything. He was so overcome, I think. He couldn't talk. I told him to go to a quiet place and take the call."

Schaffer believes Mixon is as experienced as a grizzled veteran when he makes what promises to be one of the most scrutinized rookie years in NFL history. After hearing Mixon's emotional conference call with the Cincinnati media, Schaffer is even more certain.

"He's a 20-year-old who's had 40 years of experience thrown at him in the last three years," Schaffer said. "I think his press conference today was indicative of the kind of kid he is. He was passionate, humble, appreciative. That's him."

Mixon indicated that Schaffer and the team have talked about crafting an off-the-field support system, which is what the Chiefs did for fifth-rounder Tyreek Hill last year.