The Oakland Raiders weren't quite sure what to expect when they signed veteran wide receiver Michael Crabtree to a one-year contract this offseason. The hope was that he could bring an experienced presence to a callow group of receivers and aid second-year quarterback Derek Carr's development. The reality, though, was that Crabtree had struggled with leg injuries since 2013 and was coming off a disappointing season in San Francisco where he caught 68 passes for 698 yards and four scores.
But Crabtree looks rejuvenated through two games and is playing himself into a solid new contract at year's end, according to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com.
"Crabtree took a risky one year contract with the Raiders and it paid off this week," Fitzgerald wrote. "Crabtree put up 111 yards and a touchdown, which are the kind of numbers that can get him back on tracking to earning that number 1 receiver type of contract he desperately wants."
While Crabtree won't earn a contract in the vicinity of Demaryius Thomas or Dez Bryant, he could conceivably get a deal that is comparable to Julian Edelman's four-year, $17 million contract with the New England Patriots. That's assuming that he stays healthy and maintains his newfound explosiveness, of course.
All Raiders fans care about right now is that Crabtree looks good in the silver and black and helped Carr make a statement against the Baltimore Ravens last weekend.
