Back in free agency after a 49ers release, Torrey Smith looks like he will be returning to the east coast. Two teams, the Ravens and Eagles, appear to be the leaders to land the deep threat, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com notes (on Twitter).
Each holds a connection to the sixth-year wideout. The Ravens selected Smith in the second round in 2011, and he went on to have four productive seasons in Baltimore. The Ravens added Mike Wallace last year after the Vikings released him; Smith would be an obvious comparison if he returned to Maryland. Wallace is under contract for the 2017 season, and despite looming as a possible cap cut is expected to remain with the team. Kamar Aiken, though, is a UFA, and Steve Smith retired to leave the Ravens with some vacancies at wide receiver.
The Eagles discussed a Torrey Smith trade with the 49ers and have been connected to virtually every higher-end receiver on this year’s market, including Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson and Kenny Stills. Jackson and Stills will command more money for their deep-threat skills, so Smith would profile as a more reasonable addition.
With the 49ers, Smith’s production lessened in 2015 before cratering in ’16. San Francisco’s shaky quarterback situation helped limit Smith to 267 air yards — nearly 400 fewer than his previous career-low mark — before he became one of the many 49ers to finish the season on IR.