Eagles Shopping for Deep Threat?

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - With the NFL trade deadline looming on Nov. 1, the Eagles are reportedly discussing a deal for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith.

Smith, once a top-tier deep threat with Joe Flacco throwing him the football in Baltimore, has largely been ineffective since signing a big-money, free-agent deal in San Francisco before the 2015 season.

And with the 49ers at 1-6 in Chip Kelly’s first season in the Bay Area, GM Trent Baalke is shaping up as a seller at the deadline.

The Eagles understand their wide receiver group is a work in progress and more talent is needed. That’s been evident by the team’s actions since training camp when they traded backup tackle Dennis Kelly to Tennessee for Dorial Green-Beckham, and tried to land Rasheed Bailey on waivers during the same week. Meanwhile, at the final cutdown, Philadelphia did pick up Bryce Treggs off waivers from the 49ers.

The Eagles haven’t had a consistent deep threat who can stretch the defense since DeSean Jackson and took out flyers on speedsters Chris Givens and T.J. Graham in the offseason but neither was good enough to make the 53-man roster.

Smith is a 4.4 guy with size and has produced in the past with 4,453 career receiving yards and 36 TDs. His contract is an issue, however, as Smith is set to make $6.5 million over the next three years, meaning any compensation would likely be a low-round condition pick.

A Smith trade would also mean the end of Nelson Agholor as part of the Eagles’ WR rotation.

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen