Eagles signing WR Torrey Smith for 3 years, $15 million

Finally, some news for Eagles fans awaiting an upgrade to the NFL's worst wide-receiving corps.

The Birds will sign 49ers free agent wideout Torrey Smith for three years and $15 million. Smith, 28, can sign now, instead of having to wait until free agency officially opens at 4 p.m., because he was released by the 49ers.

Other possible Eagles wideout targets - such as Miami's Kenny Stills, who stayed with the Dolphins, and the Rams' Kenny Britt, snatched up by the Browns - proved to be considerably more expensive, in the $8 million a year range.

Also, as The Inquirer's Jeff McLane reported and a league source confirmed, Eagles guard Allen Barbre will not be traded or released. Last weeknd, Barbre's agent, Drew Pittman, was given permission to seek a trade. Hard to know what to make of that -- it could mean the Eagles think they might trade center Jason Kelce, in which case they might need Isaac Seumalo to start at center and Barbre to remain at left guard. Or it just could be that Barbre was unhappy not being guaranteed a starting role, wanted to see if he could find a better fit, and couldn't.

Smith's signing isn't a shock, given that the Eagles tried to trade for him at last season's trading deadline. He was drafted by the Ravens when Eagles player personnel Joe Douglas was on the Baltimore staff.

Smith's totals have declined each of the past four seasons -- from 65 catches to 49 to 33 to just 20 last season, in 12 games. He was a huge disappointment in San Francisco after signing there as a free agent for five years and $40 million two years ago. But Smith's career average of 17.0 yards per catch is notable, far better than the 11.9 average of the Eagles' top wide receiver, Jordan Matthews.

We'll have more details soon.