Earl Mitchell agrees to 4-year deal with 49ers

Former Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Earl Mitchell has reached a four-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, the team announced Saturday.

The deal is worth $16 million total with $6.5 million guaranteed and $5.5 million in the first year, according to ESPN and multiple reports.

The Dolphins released Mitchell on Feb. 16 in a cost-cutting move. He was due to earn $4 million next season.

It's a big pickup for the 49ers before the league year officially starts March 9.

"As soon as Earl hit the open market, he became a priority for us to sign," 49ers general manager John Lynch said in a statement. "A man of high character, he represents everything we want to be as a football team. Earl is a tone-setter who plays the game with a tremendous passion and the effort necessary to win in this league. We believe those qualities are contagious and will help to make our team stronger. We look forward to the impact Earl will have on the field, in the locker room and in our community."

Mitchell, 29, played in only nine games last season, as he was put on injured reserve after Week 1 because of a calf injury, and then was activated on Nov. 10, when the Dolphins used their designated-to-return spot on him. He was inconsistent in stopping the run, finishing with 18 tackles.

He has 38 career starts in stints with the Dolphins and Houston Texans.

Adding Mitchell before free agency begins gives the Niners a leg up on bolstering their ailing run defense. The Niners gave up 2,654 rushing yards in 2016, 371 more than any other team and a franchise record for futility. They also yielded 25 rushing touchdowns and 4.84 yards per carry, both of which ranked last in the NFL.

With new coordinator Robert Saleh in place, the Niners are planning to switch to a 4-3 defensive scheme that puts an emphasis on stopping the run. Mitchell is likely to play nose tackle in that defense, especially with defensive tackles Glenn Dorsey and Chris Jones scheduled for free agency. The only other candidates for that position on the current roster are Quinton Dial and Mike Purcell.

ESPN's Adam Schefter, Adam Caplan, James Walker and Nick Wagoner contributed to this report.