A longtime 49er is headed North to a division rival.
The Seattle Seahawks have signed Michael Wilhoite, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Washburn College in 2011 by Trent Baalke, Wilhoite had spent his entire career with the 49ers. He logged 201 tackles an interception and started 36 of his 65 games in five seasons with the team. In 2016, a rash of injuries threw Wilhoite and Nick Bellore into starring roles in the center of Jim O’Neil’s defense. The result was a 2-14 record and a cleaning of house.
It should be noted Wilhoite had to play in three different systems in each of the past three seasons. Jed York’s abrupt decision making — for better or worse — has meant constant coaching changes. Results on the field correlated. The 49ers were 32nd in the NFL last year on defense and allowed a franchise worst 2,654 rushing yards.
Wilhoite is a dependable special teams player and a spot starter in an injury pinch. Physically, he’s one of the strongest defensive players, but he won’t provide much from a coverage standpoint. Seattle could craft a role for the 30-year-old to contribute, but the 49ers aren’t considering this a major loss.
San Francisco signed former Raiders linebacker Malcolm Smith in the offseason, are expecting a full recovery from NaVorro Bowman following an Achilles injury in Week 4 against Dallas and could be in line to draft an inside linebacker in the early rounds of next month’s NFL Draft.