One of the pieces that the Carolina Panthers will definitely look to upgrade in the 2017 off-season is the receiver position with the need to add a deep threat. Philly Brown and Ted Ginn jr. are currently without contracts, and are set to test the free agent market. While Ginn likely will receive an offer from Mint street, he may leave and chase the money yet again, as he has been known to do.
It was revealed yesterday, by Steve Smith Sr. no less, than Torrey Smith will become a free agent.
According to sources @TorreySmithWR will be released, and become a free agent! Happy hunting my dude pic.twitter.com/w428ad6wxh
— Steve Smith Sr (@89SteveSmith) March 6, 2017
A fact that the 28 year old Torrey doesn’t appear to be too happy about, and sounds really motivated to stick it to the 49ers...
Don't be surprised when I'm back on track next year.......
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) March 6, 2017
Word around the internet is that the Baltimore Ravens might be interested in a reunion with Torrey, but that interest will heavily depend on whether Mike Wallace stays in Baltimore next season. Wallace had a resurgent 1,000+ yard season this year, but has somewhat of a high cap number of $8 million coming up. In this writer’s opinion, the Ravens would be smart to keep that working relationship intact, as I believe that cap figure to be just about right for a guy who just turned in a big season for you.
Smith still has a lot of playing days ahead of him, but his career in San Francisco was marred by ineffective QB play and injuries. He is a true deep threat with break away speed and the ability to separate from DBs. His hands are only average, but would be a massive upgrade to the pair that Ted Ginn was blessed with. To cap it off, Torrey Smith fits the “high character” profile that Dave Gettleman has announced (and we always knew) is very important to the team. Smith was a Walter Payton Man of the Year award nominee this past season. It is really hard to project the kind of money Smith will be offered in free agency due to his time in San Francisco compared to his past accomplishments and relatively young age, but do not be surprised if the Panthers see another high reward “reclamation” project they can take advantage of.
The other candidate for free agency that news recently broke about is Stevie Johnson of the now Los Angeles Chargers.
The #Chargers, who released DJ Fluker and Stevie Johnson today, are also releasing CB Brandon Flowers, a former big-ticket FA signing.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 7, 2017
Stevie Johnson is a little older than Torrey Smith, but is another story of a guy who had a lot of early career success (three 1000+ yard seasons with the Bills) as a deep threat that fell victim recently to a spurt of injuries and ineffective QB play. The Buffalo Bills traded him to the 49ers when they drafted Sammy Watkins, just as the team began its recent run of dumpster fire-ization. After that, Johnson signed a three year deal with the Chargers and got off to a fast start with QB Phillip Rivers, before injuries derailed that season. In 2016, Stevie was placed on IR after having meniscus surgery. The team has now decided to cut ties with him.
Johnson’s last contract was three years for $12 million in San Diego. His value certainly has not increased since then, in fact, I’d wager he’d accept a deal smaller than that of Ted Ginn’s return to Carolina. He is definitely a guy you’d need to bring in and evaluate medically, but has potential for a big rebound if he passes those physical tests. Like Torrey Smith, he originally ran right around a 4.4 40 yard dash. This would fall right into the category of a Gettleman bargain-bin signing that could pay high dividends.
What do you think Panthers fans? Do we spend a bit more and go after Smith, or do we roll the dice on a less expensive signing in Stevie Johnson? Someone else you have in mind?