The Dolphins view Mitchell as a replacement for Paul Soliai and Randy Starks. Soliai is already gone, agreeing to a five-year, $33 million contract with the Falcons, with $14 million guaranteed. Soliai will earn $11 million in the first year of the deal – far more than the Dolphins were willing to play.
Instead, they’ll go with Mitchell – an under-the-radar talent who did the dirty work in Houston, taking on double teams that often allowed J.J. Watt to make plays. When he was on the field last year, the Texans’ run defense allowed just 3.1 yards per carry; when he wasn’t, that average ballooned to 4.2. He led all nose tackles with 50 tackles and tallied 2.5 sacks in a defense that wasn’t designed for him to make plays.
Mitchell, from the University of Arizona, ran a 4.75-second 40 as a 296-pounder at at the Scouting Combine. That athletic ability has him drawing interest from other teams around the league. Plus at just 26, he’s got plenty left in the tank.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/03/11/3987727/miami-dolphins-target-free-agent.html#storylink=cpy