Report: 49ers considered 'frontrunners' to sign Torrey Smith
The San Francisco 49ers are reportedly considered the frontrunners to sign wide receiver Torrey Smith when free agency begins on Tuesday, reportsThe Baltimore Sun.
Smith, who played his first four NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, wrote in a blog post on Sunday that he would be playing for a different team in 2015.
• Report: WR Jeremy Maclin to sign with Chiefs
[daily_cut.nfl]Smith, 26, caught 49 passes for 767 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. The 2013 season was his most productive: 65 receptions, 1,128 yards and four touchdowns.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Smith's career average of 16.9 yards per catch ranks fourth among players with at least 100 receptions since 2011.
Smith would have been forced to leave "several million dollars" on the table if he were to remain with the Ravens, reports the Sun. A second-round draft pick of the Ravens in 2011, Smith made a $837,168 base salary last season with a $1.07 cap hit, according to Spotrac.com.
• Packers retain WR Randall Cobb with four-year, $40 million deal
Smith has two noticeable connections to the 49ers: wide receiver Anquan Boldin, with whom he played in Baltimore from 2011-12, and tight end Vernon Davis, with whom he played college football at Maryland.
Last week, the 49ers signed Australian rugby star Jarryd Hayne and defensive end Darnell Dockett.
- Mike Fiammetta
