Steve Smith has gone from NFL wide receiver to NFL insider. Smith took to Twitter on Monday to announce that Torrey Smith is being released by the 49ers. Moments later, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link) confirmed the news. On Tuesday, the Niners made it official.
Smith, 28, was slated to carry a $9.475MM cap number this year. His release doesn’t come as a huge shock given his so-so play with the team after signing a five-year, $40MM contract in 2015. In 2016, he had just 20 catches for 267 yards and three touchdowns. He played in only 12 games after missing the final four contests with a concussion.
As it stands, the recently re-signed Jeremy Kerley is the team’s No. 1 WR on the depth chart. You can expect that to change this offseason, however.
Before the trade deadline last year, the Eagles were said to be in talks with the Niners about a possible swap. It stands to reason that the Eagles could be among the teams with interest in the veteran.
Smith’s best season came with the Ravens in 2013 when he had 65 catches for 1,128 yards and four touchdowns. He really went off in the end zone in the following year, notching a career-high eleven TDs.
I had a feeling they’d either trade him or release him. This makes me wonder if they are confident they’ll land at least one of the big name WR Free Agents out there. I definitely think they’ll draft a WR.
Maybe they released him because they might be confident in lading Deseasn Jackson Pryor or Jeffery? Or we could bring back smith on a cheaper deal, sad to see his talents wasted in his 2 years here.
I agree. Such a waste of talent with no QB. I’m a 49ers fan and I was stoked to see them sign Smith but he was terrible with us and it wasn’t really his fault. I think they gotta be confident in getting one of those guys though.
We signed him thinking he could fit in with our 2014 roster, but that offseason was horrible for us:(
He a 1 trick pony and that 1 truck ain’t that grate
Nor is your English sir.
Lol
Bring it wimp
You should be a raider fan with your lack of proper English and a desire to fix everything through violence.
My guess is Jeffrey, Britt, Pryor, or D-Jax (even though Torrey Smith reminds me of Jackson) will be a 49ers. Worse case scenario is we get Pierre Garçon who is not a bad WR to have on a cheap contract.
I am hoping they are able to get Pryor. I personally think he is an upgrade especially since Browns had 0 QB play from RG3, McCown, and Kessler.