Oakland Raiders fans, no one would have blamed you if you were less than excited about signing Michael Crabtree in free agency. What began as an offseason with upwards of $50 million in salary cap space and dreams of Randall Cobb or Jeremy Maclin ended in the lowly signing of what many perceived to be damaged goods.
Crabtree hasn't been the same since a series of leg injuries over the last two years robbed him of his explosiveness. He caught 68 passes for just 698 yards and four touchdowns last year. Yes, the Raiders drafted Amari Cooper and Clive Walford. But Oakland wants to surround second-year quarterback Derek Carr with as many weapons as possible to aid his development. Crabtree, at first glance, doesn't appear to have much to offer.
But the former tenth overall pick will be just 28-years-old in September. That leaves him plenty of time to turn his career around and ESPN Raiders reporter Bill Williamson thinks he'll do just that.
"I like Crabtree more than most these days," Williamson wrote after ranking him Oakland's tenth best players. "He had a down year for the 49ers last season, but I covered Crabtree in 2013 and he made a huge difference on a good offense when he returned from an Achilles injury. He is a legitimate starter and will upgrade this offense even if he's just a possession receiver."
Crabtree's best season came in 2012 when he caught 85 balls for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns. Given his injury history and role in this new offense, it's unfair to expect the same type of production from him. But Carr has a need for crafty veterans with experience and Crabtree can provide that as a secondary target. He may not lead the league in receiving yards, but a bounce back season is possible if all goes right.
