The St. Louis Rams have signed a receiver. According to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the Rams agreed to terms with free agent Steve Smith, recently of the Philadelphia Eagles. They also signed tight end Matt Mulligan, a blocking specialist from the Jets.
Smith caught 107 passes for 1,220 yards and seven touchdowns in 2009. Injuries have weighed him down since then. A pectoral injury and a knee injury ruined his 2010 season, and a knee injury put him on injured reserve last year. He must have satisfied the Rams with his physical.
If healthy, Smith can be a good possession receiver for the Rams. He has good hands. In 2010, he caught more than 66 percent of the passes thrown to him and 70 percent the year before that. Smith was mostly an afterthought in Philadelphia last season.
According to Thomas, Smith signed a one-year deal with the Rams. A trial contract. Smith could be a nice addition, or he could be another Mike Sims-Walker. There is no guarantee that he makes the final cut some September.
Mulligan came in for a visit last week. He represents a significant upgrade at the position over Billy Bajema.