Panthers to reportedly exercise WR Torrey Smith's option for 2019

The Carolina Panthers will exercise wide receiver Torrey Smith's option for 2019, Pro Football Talk reported Thursday. Smith, 30, is set to make $5 million in 2019, the final year of a three-year pact he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in March of 2017.

The Panthers acquired Smith from Philadelphia last March in exchange for cornerback Daryl Worley. Smith had 17 catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games (six starts) in 2018, missing time due to a knee injury. Smith hasn't topped 36 catches in a season since his final year with the Baltimore Ravens in 2014, when he posted 49 grabs for 767 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns. He has scored a total of 11 touchdowns in 55 games since with the San Francisco 49ers, Eagles and Panthers.

The Panthers are expected to let veteran wideout Devin Funchess walk when free agency opens next week, while giving larger roles to 2018 first-round pick D.J. Moore and 2017 second-rounder Curtis Samuel.