The San Francisco 49ers will be releasing Torrey Smith as first reported by former NFL receiver Steve Smith Sr. Smith Sr. is already making his mark as big time news breaker, and tweeted what sources have told him on Monday.
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
The 49ers have informed Smith of his release according to Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area. Torrey Smith’s five-year, $40 million contract he signed in 2015 runs through 2019, but the 49ers finished paying Smith all of the $22 million of guaranteed money after last season. Smith, 28, was do to be paid $9.475 million next year. Smith’s salary for next year is likely the reason the 49ers did not move Smith via trade. Cutting Smith creates over $4 million in dead money toward to 2017 cap.
The 49ers, who have $93,398,264 million in cap space, could certainly afford to keep Smith, but the new regime of general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan apparently do not feel Smith, almost exclusively a downfield threat, is a fit for them in the immediate future. Smith was, however, know for being one of the team’s strongest locker room leaders.
Smith responded to the news with a series of tweets.
What is next?
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) March 6, 2017
Stay ready!
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) March 6, 2017
Don’t be surprised when I’m back on track next year…….
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) March 6, 2017
Smith had his second disappointing season in a row with San Francisco in 2016, as the team’s seventh leading receiver with just 20 catches for 267 yards and three touchdowns, before missing the final four games of the season with a concussion. Last season, Smith caught 33 balls for 663 yards and four TDs.
The 49ers re-signed leading receiver Jeremy Kerley to a 3-year, 10.5 million contract on Saturday.