Earl Mitchell has free agent visit planned with Denver Broncos
Defensive lineman Earl Mitchell, recently released by the Miami Dolphins, won’t be out of work long. He has a free agent visit lined up with the Broncos…
As we expected, the Denver Broncos have interest in veteran defensive lineman Earl Mitchell, and have a visit set up with him next week:
DT Earl Mitchell has visits lined up w/ Seahawks, Niners, Falcons + Broncos starting next week, source says. Lots of interest after Mia cut.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 18, 2017
Recently cut from the Dolphins, it comes as no surprise that the 29-year old Mitchell is generating this kind of interest early on. The free agency period doesn’t open until the second week of March, but players who are released from their contracts by teams are free to sign whenever they want. That’s why Mitchell is able to take free agent visits and even get himself a new contract before the free agency period officially even opens.
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We highlighted reasons why Mitchell would be a target of the Broncos, including the obvious connections he has to new head coach Vance Joseph (his defensive coordinator last year in Miami) and Bill Kollar (his defensive line coach while in Houston). Arguably no coaching staff in the NFL knows Mitchell’s strengths better than the one in Denver, which makes him an ideal fit for a team looking for depth on the defensive line.
Mitchell would play more of a defensive end position with the Broncos in a 3-4 alignment, but he’s a versatile player that can play inside in a four man front as well. He’s listed at 6-3, 310 pounds, so he’s built somewhat similar to Vance Walker, another player the Broncos are interested in bringing back after he tore his ACL in last year’s training camp.
Shoring up the defensive line is mandatory for the Broncos this offseason. They have a star in Derek Wolfe and a player they have high hopes for in last year’s second rounder Adam Gotsis, but they need more depth up front. That was painfully obvious as teams ran all over the Broncos last year.
Stopping the run is key for this defense to be effective, because it forces teams to pass and that is not easily done against the No Fly Zone.