Is wide receiver Torrey Smith the deep threat Eagles lack?
San Francisco 49ers kick returner Torrey Smith (82) carries the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo | Bill Wippert)
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By Mark Eckel | For NJ Advance Media South Jersey Newspapers
on March 09, 2017 at 12:04 PM, updated March 09, 2017 at 12:31 PM
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If the Eagles were simply looking for a deep threat, a wide receiver to stretch the field and open up the middle for slot receiver Jordan Matthews and tight end Zach Ertz, they found him.
If they were looking for more than that, they had better keep looking.
Torrey Smith, whom the Eagles signed Thursday to a three-year, $15 million deal, should provide quarterback Carson Wentz with a legitimate deep threat, if nothing else, according to two NFL personnel men, one of whom knows Smith well. The scouts requested anonymity to speak about another team's player.
"First of all, he's a great kid,'' an NFL scout said. "And he can run. If that's what you want, a guy to clear things out, go deep, he can do that. His hands have always been a little questionable and he doesn't really run the route tree. He's not what you would call complete. But he's smart, he works hard and he's good in the locker room.''
Eagles lucky they didn't get Britt
The former Rutgers standout was linked to the Eagles, but instead signed a four-year, $32.5 million deal with the Cleveland Browns, according to reports.
Smith, who turned 28 in January, caught 20 passes for 267 yards with three touchdowns last year for the 49ers. There were rumors of trade talks during that 2016 season between the 49ers and Eagles, but nothing materialized. San Francisco released him last week and the Eagles signed him on Thursday.
"He can still run,'' another NFC personnel executive said. "That's what he can do. But he doesn't catch the ball real well and he doesn't run good routes. Ideally, he's a backup for you who could just go in and stretch the field.''
Smith, a second-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens out of Maryland in 2011, had his best years for the Ravens in 2013 and 2014. He caught 65 passes for 1,128 yards in '13 and came back with 49 for 767 with 11 touchdowns in '14.
He signed with the 49ers in 2015 and had two down seasons, catching just 53 passes for 930 yards over his two years in the Bay Area.
"He didn't look like he was into it (in San Francisco),'' the scout said. "Maybe coming back East will help him.''
of the upside Jeffery presents, but absolutely terrified to see what the numbers are going to look like once finalized.
