Carson Wentz gets to throw to a pair of accomplished receivers next season.
The Philadelphia Eagles agreed on a one-year deal with wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, a few hours after giving wideout Torrey Smith a three-year deal on Thursday.
Jeffery was considered the top receiver available in free agency, but he couldn’t secure a long-term deal to remain in Chicago after getting the franchise tag last year. The 27-year-old Jeffery is coming off two down seasons in which he missed 11 games due to injury and suspension.
His last standout season came in 2014, when he had 85 catches for 1,133 yards receiving and 10 TDs. Jeffery went to the Pro Bowl in 2013 after catching 89 passes for 1,421 yards and seven TDs.
Jeffery had 304 receptions for 4,549 yards and 26 touchdowns in five seasons with the Bears.
Smith, released by the 49ers last week, caught 53 passes for 930 yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons in San Francisco. The 28-year-old Smith never became the deep threat that he was with Baltimore, where he helped the Ravens beat San Francisco in the Super Bowl following the 2012 season.
Smith had just 20 catches for 267 yards last season before missing the final three games with a concussion.
In six seasons, Smith has 266 catches for 4,521 yards and 37 touchdowns.
The Eagles cleared cap space earlier in the day by releasing defensive end Connor Barwin, saving $7.75 million. They’ll likely make more cuts soon.
The Eagles haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since Jeremy Maclin in 2014. They had only one wide receiver catch more than 40 passes in 2016: Jordan Matthews had 73 receptions for 804 yards.
Smith has the speed to allow quarterback Wentz to show off his arm. Wentz ranked 29th with 6.23 yards per attempt in his rookie season. Smith has averaged 17 yards per catch in his career, including an NFL-best 20.1 average in 2015.
Jeffery has excellent hands and is a big target - 6-foot-4, 230 pounds - with the ability to make plays anywhere on the field.
The Eagles also agreed on a one-year deal with guard Chance Warmack.
The 25-year-old Warmack was the 10th overall pick in the 2013 draft out of Alabama. He spent the first four years of his career with the Titans, starting 48 games.
Warmack was placed on injured reserve last September with a hand injury. He played under Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland in college.
Barwin played four seasons for the Eagles after spending the first four in Houston. He had 14½ sacks in 2014 and went to the Pro Bowl.
But Barwin had 12 sacks combined over the past two seasons and struggled last year when he moved from linebacker to the defensive line after the Eagles switched to a 4-3 system.
Barwin started all 64 regular-season games in his four years with the Eagles and leaves Philadelphia tied for 13th in team history with 31½ sacks.
“Connor Barwin is a tremendous teammate, player and an even better person,” Eagles personnel boss Howie Roseman said. “He represented the Philadelphia Eagles with class and integrity.”
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