Former Baltimore Ravens active in NFL Free Agency

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Dec 28, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver

Torrey Smith

(82) warms up prior to the game against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Torrey Smith

The toughest blow for Ravens fans will be the departure of the University of Maryland product. The San Francisco 49ers are the front runners to land Smith, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun.

Off the field, Smith was a beloved part of the team and community. He thanked the city and the team in a heartfelt farewell letter on Sunday night.

He is paid for his on-field production, however. The speedster has caught 34 touchdowns in four seasons in Baltimore, including 11 receptions for touchdowns in 2014. While the 11 scores were a career-high, Smith hauled in just 49 passes for 767 yards which were career-lows. He struggles with making plays on the ball which was evident on the Ravens final offensive play of the 2014 season.

While it is going to be tough to see him go, it is ultimately the right decision for the Ravens to make. The front office simply couldn’t afford to pay Smith, and acknowledged it weeks ago. The market is way too high for a receiver incapable of catching passes over the middle of the field. Smith will go down as the best receiver the Ravens have drafted in team history, but he is not worth the money of a top wide receiver.

Next: Three QBs the Ravens could target in free agency

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