49ers to bring in Jared Wheeler for tryout at rookie minicamp

The San Francisco 49ers will open their three-day rookie minicamp in a week and a half, and it will feature a large number of tryout candidates. The team's 19 draft picks and UDFA signings will be in attendance, but we could see as many as 15 tryout candidates as well.

One such tryout candidate will be offensive lineman Jared Wheeler. His agent tweeted out Wednesday morning that Wheeler will attend the Seattle Seahawks rookie minicamp this weekend, and then the 49ers rookie minicamp next weekend.

Wheeler signed with the Carolina Panthers last May as an undrafted free agent out of Miami (FL). He was waived early in training camp, and claimed by the Buffalo Bills. He was cut at the end of training camp, and it appears did not play during the season. He signed with the Seahawks in February, but was released on Tuesday, likely to make room for draft picks and UDFAs.

A year ago, the 49ers had 14 players in for a tryout at rookie minicamp. Of that group, only Chase Thomas earned a training camp invite. Odds are pretty long for tryout candidates, but you never know what might come of it. The 49ers could use some more training camp depth along the offensive line, so maybe Wheeler earns himself a training camp opportunity.

There are not a lot of scouting reports on Wheeler. College2Pro.com had this to say about him:

Big kid a real mountain of a man. Played special teams. Keep your eye on him. Too much size to go unnoticed. A kid I've been eyeing for a long time and think there is something untapped in his potential.

A Miami message board had this to say:

6-4.5 and 320 pounds ...40--5.35, short shuttle-- 4.75, ..10 yd dash- 1.82, vertical 27 inches...the only thing he needs to work a little more at is the bench at 225 where he did 24 reps.....but that will come when on an NFL team.. has the long arms. Arms span longer than Jake Matthews (OT) Texas A&M, and same as Taylor Lewan (OT) of Michigan both expected to be top 15 picks.


(ninernation.com)