Michael Crabtree

For some reason there's still a market for Crabtree. For the fourth year in a row he failed to clear 7.0 YPT, and actually posted a career-low 6.1 - dead last among the league's 27 100-target receivers. But the Ravens scooped him up for three years and $21 million anyway, installing him as their de facto No. 1 receiver. At 6-1, 215, Crabtree has good size, but he was never fast (4.54 40), and at 30 (31 in September), he's almost certainly lost a step. Crabtree has always been able to command a fair number of targets - more than 100 all three years in Oakland, and he was effective in the red zone with 25 scores over that span. In Baltimore, his main competition consists of the oft-injured John Brown, slot man Willie Snead and two rookie tight ends. Expect Crabtree to see more targets than he deserves again in Baltimore, albeit low-value ones from Joe Flacco, whose 5.7 YPA was dead last in the NFL last season among QBs with eight or more starts.

Volume is king, and if the quarterback and coach give it to you, it doesn't matter what efficiency scolds like us think. Despite another season of weak per-play numbers (6.9 YPT, 33rd), with the younger, faster, more dynamic Amari Cooper across from him, Crabtree saw 145 targets (10th), 21 of which were in the red zone (T-6th.) As a result, he scored eight times (T-9th) and barely eked out a 1,000-yard season. At 6-1, 214, Crabtree has good size, but he's not fast (4.54 40), quick or explosive -- he's had only three catches for 40 yards over his last 291 targets. Crabtree's a solid route runner, he's got good hands, and his decent height and leaping ability make him an adequate red-zone presence -- he scored six times from that area. Heading into 2017, Crabtree should reprise his usual role. The Raiders added only return man Cordarrelle Patterson and tight end Jared Cook to the receiving corps, and neither is likely to impact the distribution of targets to the team's top three wideouts very much. Slot man Seth Roberts vultured a whopping 21 red-zone targets last year, but that's unlikely to happen again, leaving Crabtree as the main weapon in that area. Crabtree suffered a concussion in the team's playoff loss to the Texans, but is healthy at press time and expected to take part in the team's offseason activities.

Oakland is usually where careers go to die, but Crabtree's was somehow resurrected. In fact, Crabtree received more targets than star rookie Amari Cooper (146 to 130) and caught more passes (85 to 72). But while Cooper's efficiency was pedestrian, Crabtree's was downright awful – among the league's 32 100-target receivers, his 6.3 YPT ranked last. At 6-1, 214, Crabtree has decent size, but below average (4.54 40) speed. He's a good route runner and possesses good hands, but he's neither quick nor explosive. Despite getting the 10th most targets in the NFL Crabtree failed to record even a single catch of 40 yards. Crabtree did score nine times, however, on only 13 red-zone looks, making him exceptionally efficient on that front. But given his average frame and lack of long speed, we'd be surprised if he reprised that in 2016, barring an unexpected increase in red-zone chances. On the bright side, Oakland didn't add to its receiving corps this offseason, meaning Crabtree's still slated for plenty of work, and quarterback Derek Carr could still improve in Year 3.

Oakland isn't usually the best place to revive one's career — at least since the Rich Gannon-Jerry Rice days. And Crabtree will be playing opposite No. 4 overall pick Amari Cooper, who is likely to see the bulk of the targets from quarterback Derek Carr in the NFL's least efficient passing offense from last season. At 6-1, 214, and 4.54 speed, Crabtree's physical specs don't stand out, but he's a polished receiver with good ball skills and usually reliable hands, even if his seven drops on 108 targets last year indicate otherwise. The Raiders also have decent depth at the position — Andre Holmes is a physical freak, and Rod Streater has good physical tools and has been reasonably efficient in bad circumstances, so while Crabtree should start initially, his role is hardly assured. The best case is Crabtree seeing single coverage and evolving into a trusted possession and occasional red-zone option.

Crabtree’s 2012 breakout portended even bigger things for 2013 with strong-armed Colin Kaepernick around for a full season, but a torn Achilles in the spring put the kibosh on that. Crabtree did return for the season’s last five games and performed surprisingly well, with 8.6 YPT and 14.9 YPC, per-play numbers that matched his prior season. He also saw work in three playoff games, with an eight-catch, 125-yard showing against the Packers before being shut down by elite defenses in Carolina and Seattle. At 6-1, 214 and with 4.54 speed, Crabtree is on the lower end of the size/speed requirements for No. 1 receivers, but he’s got good ball skills, reliable hands and a great rapport with Kaepernick. The downside here is San Francisco is so loaded with offensive talent from underused tight end Vernon Davis to Anquan Boldin, and newly acquired Stevie Johnson to a deep backfield that just added rookie Carlos Hyde. Crabtree should still be the team’s top target, but unless the vaunted defense were to collapse, he’s unlikely to be among the league leaders in volume. It also doesn’t help to be playing in the smash-mouth NFC West where the Seahawks' and Cardinals' top defenses reside.

Crabtree's first three seasons were rather disappointing, but he came on strong in the second half of 2012, after Colin Kaepernick took the quarterback job from Alex Smith. While there's certainly risk here, the upside should justify a high draft pick. Including the playoffs, Crabtree finished with 90-plus receiving yards in six of his last eight contests in 2012.

Considering he played in a run-first offense and for a defense-oriented team, Crabtree’s third season constituted progress. For starters, Crabtree caught 63 percent of the passes thrown his way (7th) and brought in three passes of 40-plus yards. His 7.7 YPT was below average, but still a career high as he and Alex Smith were more on the same page. Crabtree also hauled in 72 balls and led the team with 114 targets. At 6-1, 214, Crabtree’s got good size, plus ball skills, solid hands and good toughness. The 49ers put those skills to use in the red zone (17 targets), but only four of those were from inside the 10. Crabtree, who has battled a foot injury since his rookie year, has been a constant attendee at the team’s strength and conditioning program this offseason, and at press time claimed to feel healthier than at any point in his NFL career. That’s a good thing because the Niners brought in a lot of competition for targets in Randy Moss, Mario Manningham and first-round pick A.J. Jenkins.

Crabtree essentially duplicated his mediocre 2009 per-play numbers – 7.3 YPT, 13.5 YPC – while adding a few more touchdowns in five more games. Those marks were fine for a rookie who missed training camp and the first six weeks of the year. They were less so for a top-10 overall pick with a year of experience under his belt. At 6-1, 214, with athleticism, ball skills, good hands and toughness, Crabtree has the tools to be an Anquan Boldin type, but something hasn't yet clicked. Crabtree missed his second straight preseason (this time due to a strained neck) and dropped seven balls during the year due to poor focus. That he had Alex and Troy Smith throwing him the ball didn't help, but that's not going to change this year with Alex Smith returning as the starter. Still, Crabtree's only played a little more than a year and a half and hasn't seen much training camp in either season. Gamble on the talent if he slips.

For a rookie who missed all of training camp and five full games, Crabtree played about as well as one could expect — especially in a conservative offense. At 6-3, 215, and with excellent hands, good athleticism and the willingness to fight for the ball in traffic, Crabtree has everything you could want in a receiver except elite deep speed. He’s a good route runner, and is unusually polished for a young receiver — which explains how he was able to mesh in the 49ers offense despite missing his rookie camp. He’ll be the 49ers’ unquestioned top target on the outside this year, though Crabtree will likely yield some of the red-zone and goal-line looks to rising star tight end Vernon Davis, who tied for the NFL lead with 13 touchdown catches last year. One big key to Crabtree’s development, of course, will be quarterback Alex Smith. The former No. 1 overall pick showed good growth last year with 18 touchdowns and 12 picks in 11 games, and the team upgraded its offensive line significantly in the draft.

The 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft, Crabtree possesses everything you’d want in a receiver except elite deep speed. That’s OK – the same could be said about Larry Fitzgerald. At 6-3, 215, Crabtree is a physical wideout, who has no trouble beating press coverage at the line of scrimmage or coming down with the ball in traffic. He’s got excellent hands, an outstanding vertical leap and adjusts well to the ball in the air. Given his size and athleticism, he should make an ideal option in the red zone. Crabtree, who underwent surgery on a fractured left foot in March, is expected to be close to full strength by late July. Barring a setback, he’ll compete with Josh Morgan for the starting split end job, opposite Isaac Bruce. Should he win the job (and it’s likely just a matter of time and health), he’s worth a look for his touchdown and play-making potential. Just keep in mind that under coach Mike Singletary and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, San Francisco is likely to employ a run-first offense.