SANTA CLARA — The San Francisco 49ers agreed to a four-year contract with free-agent defensive tackle Earl Mitchell on Friday.
A person familiar with the deal confirmed that Mitchell had decided to join the Niners just over a week after being released by Miami. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the signing had not been announced by the team.
NFL.com first reported the deal, saying Mitchell would get a $16 million deal with $5.5 million paid in the first year.
The 49ers need help on the interior of the defensive line as they are expected to switch from a three-man front to a four-man front under new coordinator Robert Saleh. San Francisco allowed a league-worst 165.9 yards rushing per game last season.
Mitchell was drafted by Houston in the third round in 2010 and played four seasons for the Texans. In his final season with the Texans, Mitchell played under new 49ers defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina.
He then signed a four-year, $16 million contract with the Dolphins but got released with one year remaining on the contract. Mitchell was limited to just nine games last season because of a calf injury.
In 100 career games, Mitchell has 5 1/2 sacks and 19 tackles for loss.
Earlier in the day, the Niners signed wide receiver DeAndre Carter to a two-year contract. Carter has not played in the NFL but spent part of the 2015 season on the practice squads in Oakland and New England. Carter was cut by the Patriots last September and wasn’t on a roster at all last season.
Carter played college ball at Sacramento State. He had 207 catches for 2,760 yards and 35 TDs in 41 games. He was an Associated Press first-team All-American in 2014 when he caught 99 passes for 1,321 yards and 17 TDs.
