With comparatively limited cap space to the rest of the NFL, the Eagles are going to need to get creative to plug the biggest holes on the roster this offseason.
As Jason La Canfora reported last week, the Eagles could consider trading for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith. While Smith is nowhere near an elite receiver at this stage of his career, this is a move the Eagles should absolutely consider.
However, the negotiations should start and end by Eagles vice president of football operations Howie Roseman gauging new San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch’s interest in a Mychal Kendricks for Smith swap.
The Eagles have made a concerted effort to be an organization that builds through the draft rather than free agency after hiring Joe Douglas and Andy Weidl to oversee the personnel department. By swapping Kendricks for Smith, Roseman would preserve the team’s draft capital and add a steady veteran receiver to a young corps.
How Eagles can make playoffs in 2017
Smith’s statistics won’t weren’t overwhelming in 2016 — he caught 20 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns last season — a change of scenery and the opportunity to mentor the likes of Jordan Matthews and Nelson Agholor could reinvigorate the 28-year-old’s career.
With three years remaining on his contract, Smith is due $24 million and carries a 2017 cap number of $9.475 million and could come much cheaper to the Eagles than deep-threat wide receivers in free agency such as DeSean Jackson or Kenny Stills.
As for Kendricks, he seemed to fall out of favor with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and the coaching staff during an injury-riddled 2016 training camp and preseason. Kendricks posted just 32 tackles last season.
Carrying a $6.6 million cap number in 2016, Kendricks could wind up as a potential cap casualty candidate for the Eagles this offseason if they cannot find a trade partner.
Trading Kendricks for Smith could prove a better use of assets than overspending on a talent-limited crop of free agents and allow the Eagles to utilize financial resources elsewhere and focus on the draft to add at least one more young receiver to quarterback Carson Wentz’s arsenal.
Carson Wentz at Super Bowl
Matt Lombardo may be reached at MDLombardo@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardo975.
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