How Torrey Smith-Daryl Worley trade might affect Philadelphia Eagles DBs, WRs and more

PHILADELPHIA -- Free agents haven't hit the open market yet, but the Philadelphia Eagles have already stomped out any notion that they would take their Super Bowl trophy into a cozy corner and relax for much of the offseason.

Rather, Philly's been active in March. As active as almost any team in the NFL. After reports surfaced Wednesday that the Birds agreed to trade for Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Bennett, another twist arrived Friday when ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted that the Eagles were trading wide receiver Torrey Smith to the Panthers in exchange for cornerback Daryl Worley.

The deals can't become official until the league year opens Wednesday. But we're free start breaking down the affects the Smith-Worley trade could have on the Eagles:

How it could impact the Eagles' receiver corps

Despite enduring several missteps during his one season with the Eagles, Smith brought valuable experience and speed as a deep threat on the outside. He finished the regular season with 36 catches for 430 and then made a handful of significant plays during the team's postseason run, including a memorable catch off a ricochet against the Falcons and a touchdown grab off a flea-flicker in the NFC Championship Game victory over the Vikings.

Yes, Smith struggled with drops. He also didn't match his productivity from earlier in his career. But he was a starter in 2017 who brought an important set of skills to the Eagles' offseason, so they'll need to identify a capable replacement.

Mack Hollins is the most obvious choice for the task.

A fourth-round pick in 2017, Hollins displayed flashes of excellence as a rookie and has enough speed to stretch the defense in the same manner Smith did.

Hollins pulled in 16 catches for 226 yards last season and caught one touchdown on a 64-yard bomb from Carson Wentz. Beyond Hollins, the Eagles could give 2017 fifth-round pick Shelton Gibson more opportunities to compete for playing time, scour the free agent market next week for another speedy wideout or target a replacement for Smith in the draft in late April.

However it shakes out, the Eagles need to complete their receiver corps. Alshon Jeffery, once he returns from rotator cuff surgery, is a legitimate No. 1 receiver and Nelson Agholor thrived last year in the slot. To fill out its desired lineup, Philly needs a deep threat opposite Jeffery.

The question now is whether that job belongs to Hollins, Gibson or a potential newcomer.

Philadelphia Eagles trade for Daryl Worley: 6 things to know about the Philly native

How it could impact the secondary

Worley, 23, is no slouch. While the Eagles' decision to move Smith might have been rooted in finances (more on that later), the player they got in return is a bona fide NFL cornerback who started 25 games for the Panthers over the past two seasons.

A third-round pick in 2016, Worley isn't a Pro Bowl-caliber star but has the chops to compete for playing time in Philadelphia, where he'll join four other cornerbacks 24 or younger: Jalen Mills, Ronald Darby, Rasul Douglas and Sidney Jones.

That creates a logjam, though. It's easy to see that the Eagles have a surplus of talent at cornerback, so perhaps another deal is looming or maybe Philadelphia is eyeing a position switch for a particular player.

With No. 3 safety Corey Graham and inside cornerback Patrick Robinson set to hit unrestricted free agency next week, the Eagles could be left to fill specific roles on their defense. By sliding Worley or Douglas to safety or asking Mills to move inside to cover slot receivers, the Eagles could replace potential departed veterans.

We'll know more about the Eagles' thinking once they are allowed to discuss the trade March 14 and when Worley arrives in Philadelphia. In any case, it's clear the team has more decisions to make to sort out its jumble of cornerbacks.

The salary cap ramifications

The Eagles' primary impetus for dealing Smith was shedding his $5 million cap number. In Worley, the Birds bring to town a cornerback who'll count only $670,000 against the salary cap, according to Spotrac, providing relief for the cash-strapped Eagles.

Philadelphia should carve out more than $4 million in cap space by making this move.

The team still needs to trim finances, however. The Eagles entered the week about $10 million over the salary cap and took on roughly $6 million more in the trade that brought Bennett to Philadelphia, so the deal to acquire Worley is shaping up to be just one of several cost-cutting moves the Eagles will make over next week.

That Super Bowl parade is in the rearview now. The Eagles, as they have been each offseason in the Howie Roseman era, are busy looking ahead.

-- @AaronKazreports

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