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49ers sign Earl Mitchell to 4-year deal reportedly worth $16M

Brad Barr / USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers have made the first big free-agent splash of the NFL offseason, signing defensive tackle Earl Mitchell to a four-year deal, the team announced Saturday.

The deal is worth $16 million, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports.

"As soon as Earl hit the open market, he became a priority for us to sign," said 49ers general manager John Lynch. "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"

Released by the Miami Dolphins last week in a cost-cutting move, Mitchell is an underrated interior lineman whose time in Miami was marred by injuries.

It's the first big signing of John Lynch's tenure in San Francisco, and it didn't necessarily come easy. Both the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks showed interest in the 29-year-old Mitchell.

The 49ers are converting to a 4-3 defensive front and lacked interior pass-rushers. Mitchell fits the mold and will get paid a reported $5.5 million in his first season with the team to do it.

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