Recent Miami Dolphins cap casualty DT Earl Mitchell is starting to get a lot of interest. He has visits lined up with the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, and Denver Broncos next week.
DT Earl Mitchell has visits lined up w/ Seahawks, Niners, Falcons + Broncos starting next week, source says. Lots of interest after Mia cut.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 18, 2017
Of those teams, none have more cap space than the 49ers, who are estimated to have over $80 million. The coaching staff is getting a late start thanks to the delayed hiring of head coach Kyle Shanahan, who is leading the research on free agents while general manager John Lynch focuses on the draft.
Mitchell was a third-round selection out of Arizona in the 2010 NFL Draft and played for the Houston Texans prior to his time in Miami. He spent much of the 2016 season on injured reserve due to a calf injury before being activated for the final five games. Mitchell's scheduled $4 million salary in 2017 contributed to his release from the Dolphins.
The 6-foot-3, 300-pound run stuffer could help a 49ers defense that ranked last in the league against the run last season. The unit, in addition to ranking last in points and yards allowed, surrendered a league-high 176.3 rushing yards per game. No team in 49ers franchise history had given up more rushing yards than the 2016 squad.