Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Report: 49ers are the favorites to land Torrey Smith

It isn't news that Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith will sign elsewhere in free agency. The only mystery was where he was going to end up.

According to ESPN's Adam Caplan, the San Francisco 49ers will get a deal done with Smith unless the money becomes too steep. He mentioned that the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans have also expressed interest in Smith during the three-day legal tampering period.

It was 12 days ago when owner Steve Bisciotti expressed pessimism about the Ravens' chances of retaining Smith. Bisciotti believed Smith was going to get market value, and the Ravens didn't have the cap room to overpay Smith.

"I think we're going to have to take it on the chin and move on," Bisciotti said.

With Randall Cobb choosing to re-sign with the Packers on Saturday, Smith became the second-best wide receiver in free agency behind Jeremy Maclin. Smith is likely seeking a deal that averages between $8 million and $9 million per season after Cobb received $40 million over four years, and that asking price is too steep for a Ravens team that has $4.635 million of cap room (according to ESPN's Roster Management System).

If Smith signs with the 49ers, he would reunite with Anquan Boldin. Smith and Boldin started together on the 2012 Ravens team that defeated the 49ers in the Super Bowl.

Smith, who has the seventh-most catches of 25 yards or more in the NFL since 2011, would fill a void for the 49ers.

“I think it’s no mystery we’re looking for guys that can run and get down the field,” 49ers general manager Trent Baalke told reporters last month at the NFL scouting combine.

The Ravens are probably going to have to sign a wide receiver in free agency and add one in the draft. Steve Smith turns 36 in May, and no other wide receiver caught more than 25 passes for the Ravens last season.

One possibility is Andre Johnson if he gets cut by the Texans. But he is expected to draw interest from multiple teams such as the Colts, Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.

Free agency officially begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

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