Mitchell had 33 tackles and two sacks during the 2014 season.

Mitchell is what he is, a depth player along the defensive line who will produce as long as he isn't overexposed.

Dolphins signed DT Earl Mitchell to a four-year, $16 million contract.

The deal includes $9 million guaranteed. Mitchell, 26, started 14 games last season, racking up 48 tackles and 1.5 sacks. As an ideal one-gap 4-3 player, he was widely considered one of the top "sleepers" in free agency. The Dolphins outbid the Chargers to land Mitchell.

The Union-Tribune San Diego confirms the Chargers are "very much in the mix" for free agent DT Earl Mitchell, but that the Dolphins are his most-likely suitor.

Mitchell would be a much better fit for Miami's 4-3 than San Diego's 3-4, so if the Dolphins' offer is better by even a few dollars, it would be a no-brainer. Mitchell appears likely to come off the market before Tuesday is through.

The Miami Herald reports the Dolphins are "definitely in the mix" for free agent DT Earl Mitchell.

The Fins are a better fit for Mitchell's skill set than the Chargers, who are also rumored to be in the bidding. San Diego runs a two-gap 3-4 defense. Mitchell is a one-gap player. He'd play "three" or "one" technique in Miami.

The Union-Tribune San Diego reports the Chargers are expected to express interest in free agent NT Earl Mitchell.

Mitchell has already been linked to several teams and is shaping up to be a hot commodity. The 26-year-old was a poor fit in Houston's 3-4 scheme. The Chargers also run a 3-4. Mitchell would be best served to play three-technique on his next club. San Diego is looking for it's fourth starting nose tackle in four years.

The Miami Herald reports the Dolphins are expected to let free agent DTs Paul Soliai and Randy Starks walk, and are interested in free agent Earl Mitchell as a potential replacement.

Mitchell has also been connected to the Bears. Appearing on ESPN last month, ex-Bucs GM Mark Dominik labeled Mitchell one of the top sleepers of free agency. A fifth-year former third-round pick, Mitchell started 14 games last season, playing 553 snaps. Mitchell would do well to depart Houston's 3-4 scheme for a 4-3.

The Chicago Tribune believes the Bears could show interest in free agent NT Earl Mitchell.

Mitchell would be a strong fit for the Bears' 4-3 scheme if they fail to re-sign Henry Melton. The Texans have expressed interest in bringing Mitchell back, but he appears set to test the market. Ex-Bucs GM Mark Dominik considers Mitchell one of the top sleepers of free agency.

ESPN Texans reporter Tania Ganguli doesn't expect the team to re-sign free agent NT Earl Mitchell.

Texans NT Earl Mitchell's 2013 base salary increased from $575,000 to $630,000 after he hit escalators in his rookie deal.

Mitchell has appeared in 47 of a possible 48 games since being a third-round pick in 2010. However, he's started just three contests. Starting nose tackle Shaun Cody is hitting free agency this offseason, so Mitchell could take on a bigger role in 2013. He has 86 career tackles.

Texans NT Earl Mitchell will get his first career start in place of Shaun Cody (ribs).

Cody suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung in Week 9. Mitchell, a third-year player out of Arizona, bulked up from 287 to 308 in the offseason. Rookie Jared Crick and newly signed Terrell McClain will rotate in behind Mitchell.

Texans NT Earl Mitchell has bulked up to 308 pounds after playing last season at 287.

Mitchell has been even bigger than this before, weighing in at 315 at the 2010 Combine. So it's not completely new. At 6-foot-2, 308, Mitchell at least looks more like an NFL nose tackle. He rotated with Shaun Cody last year, coming in off the bench, and figures to emerge as a starter in his third pro season.

Texans coach Gary Kubiak indicated at the Combine that the team is satisfied with continuing to rotate Earl Mitchell and Shaun Cody at nose tackle.

They don't seem to view nose tackle as a need. "A lot of people think you need a big nose," Kubiak said. "Those two guys aren't very big but they're very active ... and we think the world of 'em." Cody started all 16 games in 2011, but split time with Mitchell right down the middle. Mitchell finished with 27 tackles and a sack, and had another sack in the playoffs.

Texans DL coach Bill Kollar confirmed that Earl Mitchell will be an up-field, one-gap nose tackle in the team's new defense.

"When everybody talks about the big nose man and stuff, those are the teams that play two-gap where they play the nose man head-up on the center," explained Kollar of Mitchell, who's only 6'2/295. "... We don't need a guy that's 350 pounds and can't move." Mitchell will share time with Shaun Cody, who was re-signed before the lockout. Cody is the bigger lineman of the two.

New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips says he likes the idea of Earl Mitchell being the Texans' primary nose tackle.

Mitchell is 6'2/295, so he's really small for a traditional 3-4 nose tackle. We doubt that the 2010 third-round pick would hold up very long in that spot, meaning Shaun Cody will rotate in often.

Texans GM Rick Smith expressed confidence at the Combine that Earl Mitchell can be a full-time 3-4 nose tackle.

At 6'2/295, he'd be the smallest 3-4 nose in the NFL. "I think Earl Mitchell's a guy that can play the nose for us," said Smith, adding that he expects a "big jump" in the 2010 third-round pick's second season. If Mitchell wins the NT job, Houston will field a defense to target for running back fantasy matchups.

New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips believes Earl Mitchell and Shaun Cody can both play nose tackle in his version of the 3-4 scheme.

Mitchell, in particular, is undersized for an NFL nose, but he has a strong motor and off-the-snap burst. Those are qualities shared by Phillips' most recent undersized nose, Pro Bowler Jay Ratliff. The Texans will likely draft or sign a bigger nose tackle to go with Mitchell and Cody.

Texans DT Earl Mitchell played 25 snaps in the team's season opener against the Colts.

Starter Amobi Okoye hurt his ankle in practice on Wednesday and is questionable for Sunday's game against the Redskins, and Mitchell would see the bulk of the snaps at DT in Okoye's absence.

Texans signed rookie DT Earl Mitchell, the No. 81 overall pick, to a four-year contract.

Mitchell makes up for being undersized with a John Randle-like motor and terrific off-the-snap burst. The Texans project him as a third-down pass rusher in year one, replacing disappointing DT Amobi Okoye in passing situations.

The Texans expect DT Earl Mitchell to make a "significant contribution" as a starter.

They see Mitchell as a defensive tackle with the speed and quickness to get off the ball and be disruptive. Houston's interior line group improved last year, but they needed more youth and depth.

Texans selected Arizona DT Earl Mitchell with the No. 81 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

A high-motor and explosive, if undersized (6'1/290) one-gap penetrator, Mitchell led the Wildcats in tackles for loss (12.5) last season and chipped in 6.5 sacks. He's a solid fit for Houston's aggressive scheme, although the mid-third round was a bit early for our tastes. Mitchell doesn't have a whole lot of upside and lacks the skill set to be more than a rotational tackle.