March 09, 2017
The Philadelphia Eagles have announced that they signed former Ravens and 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith to a three-year deal. It's a modest deal, at least in terms of "free agency money," and less than what Smith was making in 2016.
Torrey Smith, 3-year deal for $15mil with the Eagles, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2017
In 28 games since signing a lucrative deal with the 49ers, Smith averaged a paltry 33.2 receiving yards per game. In 2017, Smith would have counted for $9,600,000 against the Niners' cap, $4,800,000 of which they saved when they released him. That was a no-brainer decision for them.
While Smith's numbers were bad with an incompetent 49ers team, he has shown that he can be productive in a better environment. In his first four years in the NFL with the Ravens, Smith averaged 53 catches, 898 yards, and 7.5 TDs per season.
Smith fits the profile of a deep threat the Eagles are seeking to add, hence their interest in him near the trade deadline this past season. He ran a 4.41 at the 2011 NFL Combine and has a 17.0-yards per catch average over his career.
As a free agent target, Smith is a less expensive alternative to a player like DeSean Jackson, who is expected to garner a huge pay day.
Smith is reasonably aged, as he just turned 28 in January.
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