Ex-Raiders, Dolphins and Colts linebacker Philip Wheeler has signed a 1 year deal with the San Francisco 49ers.
Instantly this strikes as big NFL draft day news, as it patches up an area of the team which was perhaps worst hit by the roster movements of this offseason. Wheeler may not be a big name, and he may not bring with him the numbers that Patrick Willis left behind, but what he does bring is competition.
Competition in a defense that is a great deal thinner than it used to be, but more importantly, for today at least, competition that means a young player who may or may not be drafted in that position later on today is not under pressure to come straight in as a starter.