NFL free agency update: Eagles sign WR Mike Wallace to 1-year deal
By Jon Benne
The defending champion Eagles add Mike Wallace as a veteran deep threat after trading Torrey Smith.
The Philadelphia Eagles have found their replacement for Torrey Smith, signing wide receiver Mike Wallace to a one-year contract. Wallace could fill the same role as Smith, who went to the Carolina Panthers in a trade.
Wallace spent the past two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, following stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, and Minnesota Vikings. The 31-year-old has slowed down in recent years, but is still productive as a deep threat. Last season, he turned in 52 catches for 748 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 14.4 yards per catch.
The defending champion Eagles are mostly keeping their offensive core together, signing Alshon Jeffery to a new deal and picking up Nelson Agholor’s fifth-year option. And now they might’ve upgraded from Smith to Wallace at a cheaper cost.
Although he has a fairly limited skill set at this point, Wallace can still stretch fields and fills a key niche in the Eagles’ diverse offense. He should slide right in as the No. 3 receiver behind Jeffery and Agholor.
Contract details
For the #Eagles and FA WR Mike Wallace, it’s a 1-year deal worth $2.5M with incentives, source said. Slides neatly under the salary cap.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 22, 2018
National reaction
When you replace Torrey Smith with Mike Wallace, who has been far more productive over the last two years, for half the cost. pic.twitter.com/GrGFSO0ZCU
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) March 22, 2018
Eagles traded Torrey Smith ($5M) for a cornerback on a rookie contract (Worley) and replaced Smith with Mike Wallace ($2.5M) for half the cost. Howie Roseman needs a heat check trade/signing at this point. Just fire something up, see if it lands.
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) March 22, 2018
Last 2 seasons
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) March 22, 2018
Mike Wallace: 124 recs, 1765 yards, 8 TD (14.2 Y/R)
Torrey Smith: 56 recs, 697 yards, 5 TD (12.4 Y/R)
…
Wallace is set to make $2.5 million in 2018 while Smith will make $5M.
Howie does it again. #Eagles
Grade
Wallace never caught on as a true No. 1 receiver (there’s a reason he’s on his fourth team in five years), but he’s an excellent complementary piece in a deep Eagles receiving corps. Combine that with the cheap contract commitment, and it’s a perfect buy-low scenario. The Eagles might have found a bargain here.
Grade: A