The Baltimore Ravens have a new body at wide receiver after agreeing to terms with wide receiver Michael Crabtree. The contract is a three-year deal for $21 million dollars, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Ravens giving WR Michael Crabtree a three-year, $21 million deal, including $15 million in first two years and $11 million guaranteed ($7M signing bonus), per source. Deal could be worth up to $20 million in first two years.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2018
Report: Baltimore Ravens Sign Wide Receiver Michael Crabtree
Crabtree is coming off something of a disappointing season with the Oakland Raiders. After recording over 900 yards in his first two years in Oakland, the nine-year veteran only recorded 58 receptions for 618 yards. He still hauled in eight touchdowns, but Oakland felt his presence was unnecessary after the addition of former Green Bay Packers receiver Jordy Nelson.
Crabtree first entered the league as a first-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2009 NFL Draft. While he never developed into the star receiver San Francisco hoped they were getting, Crabtree was still a serviceable number one.
Through his first three years with the 49ers, Crabtree recorded 175 receptions for 2,240 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was a reliable weapon on short and intermediate routes, and was one of the most reliable weapons for quarterback Alex Smith. His presence was a big reason the 49ers made it to the NFC Championship Game in 2011.
Crabtree’s best season came in 2012. The 49ers famously benched Smith for Colin Kaepernick, and Crabtree responded well to the switch. The Texas Tech product finished with 85 receptions for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns, all of which were career highs. The 49ers made it all the way to the Super Bowl, in large part because of Crabtree.
An off-season ACL tear limited Crabtree to just five games in 2013. While he played in all 16 games in 2014, he didn’t look like the player he once was. The 49ers parted ways with Crabtree following the 2014 season, and he signed on with the Oakland Raiders.
The change of scenery revived Crabtree’s career. Working with quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver Amari Cooper, Crabtree finished his 2015 season with 85 receptions for 922 yards and nine touchdowns. All of those numbers were the best or second best of his career. His 2016 was just as good, finishing with 89 receptions for 1,003 yards and eight touchdowns.
