What to expect from Michael Crabtree heading into 2018
Michael Crabtree was one of the Ravens’ top free agent signings this offseason. What can we expect from him in Baltimore?
Ravens fans didn’t know what to expect from GM Ozzie Newsome when he vowed to make significant changes to the receiving core this offseason.
Most expected a couple free agent signings to go along with a rookie, maybe two, in the first few rounds of the NFL Draft.
However, thanks to a couple of veteran free agent signings, the Ravens 2018 wide receiver depth chart is starting to fill in, and it includes a household name: Michael Crabtree.
Crabtree, a former first-round pick, is best known by the Baltimore faithful for the catch he didn’t make (4th & Goal in Super Bowl XLVII). Since then, Crabtree played two more years with the San Fransisco 49ers before moving to the Bay Area to suit up for the Black & Silver for three years. His tenure there ended this offseason after the Raiders front office opted to cut the 30-year old wideout, a position they chose to fill with long-time Packers’ wide receiver Jordy Nelson.
After his release was made official, Ravens fans couldn’t help but salivate at the mouth when thinking about the possibility of seeing Crabtree suit up in the Black & Purple.
Former Raiders' WR Michael Crabtree is scheduled to visit Friday with the Baltimore Ravens, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2018
And of course, Ozzie got it done. Crabtree visited the Ravens facility and shortly thereafter inked a 3 Year $21 million deal with $11 million guaranteed.
What does Crabtree bring to the Ravens?
He undoubtedly fills the No. 1 receiver role that has been a question with the Ravens for years, and Crabtree, who turns 31 in September, should still have multiple 1,000-yard seasons left in him.
The household name and pedigree that comes along with Michael Crabtree is one that gets fans excited, but his talent and fit within the team is what most are thrilled to see. From all looks of it, Crabtree will open camp with the Ravens as their top receiver and should expect a boatload of targets.
His ability to work the shallow and intermediate levels reliably – and hopefully develop into Flacco’s go-to guy will be enormous for this offense moving forward. When healthy and motivated, Crabtree can put numbers up with the best of ’em. Despite a down year last year in Oakland, Crabtree still would have ranked second in receptions (58) and second in receiving yards (618) compared to the Ravens’ receivers in 2017, despite playing in only 14 games.
Most expect Crabtree to build a great rapport with Joe Flacco and act as a vocal veteran leader on the team, coupled with Terrell Suggs. There’s no doubt that Crabtree can, if healthy, break 80+ catches,1000+ yards and rack up double-digit TDs for the first time in his career this season. The only thing hampering him from doing so would be injury or the fact that Flacco loves to spread the ball around.
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Either way, with Crabtree and Snead out wide, along with John Brown taking the top off the defense, expect the Ravens aerial attack to be much improved this upcoming campaign.