49ers salary cap: Philip Wheeler contract details involves Week 1 roster bonus

The San Francisco 49ers signed inside linebacker Philip Wheeler to a 1-year deal a week ago, and we now have some details about his contract. Per the NFLPA salary database, Wheeler will earn the league minimum for a 7-year veteran, which is $870,000. The deal will not be a minimum salary benefit deal (counting for less against the cap) due to a variety of roster bonuses and incentives that are attached to it. Our man Jason Hurley has the scoop on some of those details:

According to a source the 1yr deal Phillip Wheeler signed was for $1M, with a $130K 1st game roster bonus.

— Jay Hurley (@Jay_AB81) May 7, 2015

Also Wheeler has $350K incentives, which I believe are NLTBE, as he got a $870K base salary, also no guaranteed money.

— Jay Hurley (@Jay_AB81) May 7, 2015

The NFLPA salary cap report lists the 49ers with $5,464,343 in space following the addition of Wheeler and the formal removal of Chris Borland.

The contract appears to leave the 49ers on the hook for nothing with Wheeler, so it is essentially a flier. Considering he was a guy who has shown some things in the past, it is a deal that makes sense. The team seems comfortable with their current set of inside linebackers, and Wheeler will likely get a chance to claim the starting spot opposite NaVorro Bowman. Wilhoite is the incumbent and likely favorite, but we shouldn't sleep on Wheeler. It will be one of the more intriguing competitions in training camp.