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Michael Crabtree

Michael Crabtree To Visit Raiders

April 6th, 2015 at 10:32am CST by Luke Adams

MONDAY, 10:32am: The Raiders are hosting free agent receiver Crabtree today, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).

FRIDAY, 9:32am: After spending his entire NFL career with the 49ers, Michael Crabtree could be mulling the possibility of heading across the bay from San Francisco to Oakland. According to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter), the free agent wideout has a visit scheduled next week with the Raiders.

Crabtree, 27, has only made one free agent visit so far, having met with the Dolphins, and appears to be in no rush to sign. The 49ers also maintain some interest in re-signing the six-year veteran, but a report last week indicated that Crabtree would rather sign with a team that places a greater emphasis on the passing game — it’s not clear if the Raiders will fit that bill, but Oakland certainly has the cap room to make Crabtree an aggressive offer if the team wants to bring him aboard.

The former 10th overall pick had reportedly been expecting to be a $9-10MM player, but his market “crashed” and he now appears likely to settle for a short-term, make-good contract rather than a longer-term deal.

The Raiders are viewed as a potential candidate to select a wide receiver – either Kevin White or Amari Cooper – in the first round of the draft later this month, and even if they signed Crabtree, I’m not sure that would change their plans. Oakland will likely retain both James Jones and Andre Holmes for the upcoming season, as well as tight end Mychal Rivera, but none of those players exceeded 700 receiving yards in 2014. Adding more weapons to Derek Carr‘s arsenal should only increase the young signal-caller’s chances to succeed.

East Notes: Crabtree, Dolphins, Draft, Pats

April 5th, 2015 at 4:02pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Refuting an earlier report, Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post writes that a Dolphins team source has “emphatically” denied that the club ever offered free agent receiver Michael Crabtree a contract that neared $3MM in value. In fact, the source tells Abramson, financial specifics never even came up during Crabtree’s visit to South Beach. Given the disparity between the two reports, it seems there’s a bit of confusion about Crabtree’s meeting with Dolphins brass — but either way, it doesn’t sound like he’ll be joining Miami.

More notes from the East divisions:

  • The Dolphins hosted Hobart offensive lineman Ali Marpet for a visit last week, reports Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel. Marpet, who is a projected mid-round pick, has also met with the Browns as part of the predraft process.
  • Another Division II prospect, Henderson State receiver Darius Davis, has a visit scheduled with the Cowboys, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post, who notes that Davis will meet with Dallas later this week. Per Wilson, Davis already met with the Raiders last week.
  • In response to a reader’s question, Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com writes that he doesn’t believe either Pierre Garcon or Kirk Cousins is likely to be traded by Washington. Garcon, especially, could be hard to deal given his large base salaries, but any trade would likely occur after the draft after other teams assess their remaining needs, adds Tandler.
  • Mike Reiss of ESPN.com rounds up a few Patriots notes, examining the contributions of rookies on last year’s roster and wondering if New England might draft a receiver later this month.

Dolphins Notes: Crabtree, Ridley, Gore, Skrine

April 5th, 2015 at 11:01am CST by Dallas Robinson

Free agent receiver Michael Crabtree turned down approximately $3MM from the Dolphins, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, who adds that Crabtree is seeking at least $4.5MM. We had heard that Miami was interested in the former 49er, and it appears as though they had serious enough interest to offer a contract. The 27-year-old Crabtree is reportedly in no rush to sign, but he will head to Oakland this week to meet with the Raiders.

Let’s check out some more Dolphins notes, all courtesy of Jackson…

  • Running back Stevan Ridley‘s visit with the Dolphins was simply “exploratory,” writes Jackson, but Miami has not ruled out signing the free agent. Ridley is coming off a torn ACL, so the club was presumably checking out his medicals.
  • Oklahoma defensive tackle prospect Jordan Phillips met with the Dolphins last week, reports Jackson, who points out that Miami probably isn’t in need on interior defensive line help given the presence of Ndamukong Suh and Earl Mitchell, among others. Phillips ranks as the fifth-best available defensive tackle according to the NFL Network’s Mike Mayock.
  • Miami showed “some interest” in running back Frank Gore, but not as much as some other clubs, Gore told Jackson. The 31-year-old Gore added that he would have liked to team with current Fin running back Lamar Miller, who like Gore is a University of Miami product.
  • One of the Dolphins’ top targets on defense was cornerback Buster Skrine, but the defensive back ultimately chose the Jets over Miami.

Extra Points: Crabtree, Ridley, Bears

April 4th, 2015 at 11:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Dolphins were willing to pay Michael Crabtree close to $3MM to suit up in aqua this season, but the longtime 49ers receiver sought “at least” $4.5MM per year, reports Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

After seeking more than $9MM per campaign, Crabtree’s visiting the Raiders in hopes of salvaging some kind of value from what’s been an anti-climactic offseason from the inconsistent wideout. Crabtree earned at least $4.5MM in salary and bonuses the past five seasons.

Some additional news from Miami and the rest of the NFL on Saturday night …

  • Although the Dolphins’ summit with Stevan Ridley was merely exploratory, the team hasn’t ruled out signing the ex-Patriots running back, reports Jackson. Ridley, who is recovering from knee surgery and is one of many starting-caliber backs still in free agency, is reported to be down to the Jets and Fins for his next destination.
  • The Dolphins also showed “some interest” in bringing Colts signee Frank Gore back to Miami, but the longtime 49ers bruiser told Jackson multiple teams beat out the Dolphins’ pursuit level.
  • Jackson lists Buster Skrine, a Jets acquisition on a relatively big contract, as a player who the Dolphins coveted but one who declined their offer.
  • Oklahoma defensive tackle Jordan Phillips visited Miami last week, adds Jackson. The Dolphins are intrigued by the Sooner talent’s potential despite landing Ndamukong Suh and housing several young players who are currently in their good graces.
  • With starter-level safeties Antrel Rolle and Ryan Mundy among the three back-line defenders on the Bears‘ roster, the team plans to address the position after the early rounds of the draft, writes Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. Jahns mentioned Cody Prewitt (Ole Miss), Nick Perry (Alabama) and Northwestern’s Ibraheim Campbell as players the Bears have studied as possible fits.
  • Interior defensive line help also intrigues the Bears, reports Jahns, as they lost Stephen Paea to Washington. As they transition to the 3-4, the Bears are chock full of size outside, with Ray McDonald recently added as a five-technique end and Pernell McPhee arriving as a 280-pound linebacker. Interestingly, Jahns includes 300-pound Lamarr Houston, signed to a lucrative deal last year as a 4-3 run-stopping end, as an outside backer, which would be a unique experiment.
  • The Ravens will host Kansas free safety Cassius Sendish on a visit April 21, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. A Waldorf, Md., native and potential late-round draft pick, Sendish will visit his hometown team’s facilities during the team’s day designated for local prospect meetings.

49ers Notes: Crabtree, Nicks, Briggs

March 31st, 2015 at 6:09pm CST by Zachary Links

Sometimes, holding out for more can be the wrong move. Sources around the league believe that the market on Michael Crabtree has crashed and feel that it is no longer near the level that he expected, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report. No. 15 expected to be a $9-$10MM player, but he now looks like he’s poised for a smaller one- or two-year make good deal. Also hurting Crabtree is the depth of the wide receiver position in this year’s draft. With many WR needs filled around the league and great young talent around the corner in May, the former 49ers star is in a tough spot. More out of SF…

  • When the 49ers brought in wide receiver Hakeem Nicks and linebacker Lance Briggs, it was for a tryout and not just a meet-and-greet, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Nicks just turned 27 in June and has a pair of 1,000-yard seasons on his resume, but seem to be generating a ton of interest on the open market at present. Briggs played his whole career with the Bears, playing in 173 games and earning seven Pro Bowl appearances while making a case for the Hall of Fame.
  • Cornerback Marcus Peters, regarded by many as the top player at his position in this year’s class, has a pre-draft visit scheduled with 49ers in April, according to Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee. Over the last season and a half, the physical corner has eight interceptions and 24 pass defenses.
  • West Georgia defensive lineman Tory Slater will meet with the 49ers, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Slater recorded 69 tackles, 16.5 for losses and 10 sacks last season.

Michael Crabtree In No Rush To Sign

March 24th, 2015 at 11:37am CST by Luke Adams

Two weeks into 2015’s free agent period, wide receiver Michael Crabtree is perhaps the most notable player still without a contract, but the former 10th overall pick is in no rush to put pen to paper, reports Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. According to Maiocco, Crabtree is willing to wait however long it takes to find the right situation for the 2015 season.

Crabtree, 27, has only made one free agent visit so far, having met with the Dolphins. The 49ers also maintain some interest in re-signing the six-year veteran, but a league source tells Maiocco that Crabtree would rather sign with a team that places a greater emphasis on the passing game.

Coming off a 2014 season in which he stayed healthy but was relatively unproductive, Crabtree may be prioritizing teams with solid quarterback situations where he could improve upon last year’s 698-yard showing. As PFR’s Rory Parks noted when he examined Crabtree’s stock over the weekend, the Texas Tech product may have to take a one-year, prove-it deal in the hopes of rebuilding his value and scoring a bigger payday in free agency in 2016.

If that’s Crabtree’s plan, it makes sense that he’d carefully weigh all his options before deciding on an ideal fit. Maiocco points out that the veteran receiver is no stranger to waiting on a contract, having held out for the first four weeks of the regular season during his rookie year.

Free Agent Stock Watch: Michael Crabtree

March 22nd, 2015 at 10:59am CST by Rory Parks

Two weeks ago, we compiled our top 50 free agent list. Since that time, almost all of the players on that list have either signed with a new club, re-signed with their original team, or retired. The most intriguing name remaining is Michael Crabtree, who checked in at No. 29 and who is still looking for a new home.

Last July, our Luke Adams examined Crabtree as an extension candidate. In that piece, Adams described Crabtree’s breakout 2012 campaign, in which he established career highs in receptions (85), receiving yards (1,105), and touchdowns (9). Crabtree was just as dynamic in the postseason that year, compiling 285 yards and three touchdowns through the air and helping San Francisco reach the Super Bowl, where he nearly hauled in a game-winning touchdown on the team’s final drive.

Michael Crabtree

But it has all been downhill from there for Crabtree. In the spring of 2013, the former Texas Tech star–who famously held out until October of his rookie season, thereby becoming the longest rookie holdout in 49ers history–underwent surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon, and he did not get back on the field until December. He ultimately played just five games in the 2013 season, catching 19 balls for 284 yards and a score.

2014 was a season that most 49ers fans and players would sooner forget, and Crabtree is no exception. He managed to stay on the field for all 16 games, but he caught just 68 passes for 698 yards and four touchdowns. Those are not especially poor numbers, especially in an offense that largely struggled, but they are not the sort of statistics befitting someone of Crabtree’s talents.

As a result, Crabtree, like a number of his fellow veteran wide receivers, has had difficulty generating much interest on the open market this offseason. He visited the Dolphins several days ago, and the Chargers and Washington have also been rumored as potential landing spots. The Dolphins, who recently traded Mike Wallace and who released Brian Hartline earlier this year, would appear to be a strong fit. At this point, though, it does not appear that anything is imminent.

Age, at least, is on Crabtree’s side. He just turned 27 in December, and he has proven that he can be a capable downfield threat when healthy. But it could be that teams simply do not believe Crabtree can ever be healthy enough to replicate his 2012 form. Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com opined (via Twitter) this morning that Crabtree is a descending wideout since the Achilles injury. Although that may be something of a harsh assessment, it is not a stretch to say that Crabtree was just as much a cause of the 49ers’ anemic offense last year as he was a victim of it.

As a result, he may have to settle for a one-year deal to prove himself. A team with an established quarterback and another quality receiving option or two may provide the ideal platform for Crabtree to showcase his talents, but at this point, it is uncertain whether a suitor like that is out there. So Crabtree, like Hakeem Nicks, will continue to hope for an opportunity to show that he has put his injury history behind him and can be the dynamic player of a few seasons ago.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Michael Crabtree Visiting Dolphins

March 18th, 2015 at 12:51pm CST by Zachary Links

Niners free agent wide receiver Michael Crabtree is visiting with the Dolphins today, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). Crabtree, he notes, would be a great addition to an otherwise young receiving corp. This marks Crabtree’s first reported visit of the offseason. On Tuesday night, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported that the market for the outspoken wide receiver was rather weak.

Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) notes that Crabtree was the No. 1 player on the Jets’ board when he came out in 2009. Now, former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum is the head decision maker in Miami, so this could be a rather perfect marriage.

In 2014, Crabtree appeared in all 16 games for the 49ers, hauling in 68 catches for 698 yards and four scores. While San Francisco was undoubtedly delighted to see Crabtree play a full season after missing the bulk of 2013, those numbers didn’t match his best production in 2012, when he had 85 grabs for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns.

Veteran WRs Drawing Little Interest

March 17th, 2015 at 9:49pm CST by Zachary Links

Some receivers have cashed in big this offseason, but that’s not the case for everyone. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk hears that there’s currently little or no market for some notable names, including Michael Crabtree and Hakeem Nicks. Meanwhile, there has been no buzz over Reggie Wayne and Wes Welker.

Last week, it was reported that Washington had interest in Crabtree while the Chargers appeared to be a “stronger possibility” for the 49ers free agent. Nicks, 27, hasn’t been on the pages of PFR at all over the past few months after a rather pedestrian season in which he caught 38 passes for 405 yards.

Both Wayne and Welker have said that they plan on playing in 2015, but it sounds like they’ve yet to hear much from teams that want to help facilitate that. Wayne, for his part, sounds open to joining up with another contender after learning that he won’t be welcomed back by the Colts.

Randall Cobb, Jeremy Maclin, and other wide receivers have found riches in the month of March, but several others find themselves still waiting by the phone as April approaches.

FA Notes: Crabtree, Parker, Dwyer

March 14th, 2015 at 10:48am CST by Ben Levine

Through the first three days of free agency, we’ve seen boatloads of money handed out by front offices. According to the NFL Players Association (on Twitter), there were 85 contracts filed to the NFLPA during the first 72 hours of free agency. The value of those contracts was worth more than $1.3B dollars, including close to $590MM in guaranteed money.

As the majority of the free agent class seeks their next contract, let’s take a look at notes surrounding some notable players…

  • Washington has interest in wideout Michael Crabtree, tweets ESPN.com’s John Keim. The writer notes that the Chargers appear to be a “stronger possibility.”
  • The Ravens have been seeking consistency at the safety position since the retirement of Ed Reed, and Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun says free agent Ron Parker could be the team’s answer. The 27-year-old, who spent the past two seasons with the Chiefs, has received interest from the Bears and Buccaneers. Keim notes that Kansas City is also interested in retaining the former undrafted free agent.
  • According to Fox Sports’ Alex Marvez (on Twitter), the NFL has indicated that free agent running back Jonathan Dwyer is free to sign with any team. However, discipline is “pending” following Dwyer pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct.
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