Following the conclusion of the 2017 season, there had been the growing expectation that the Oakland Raiders would be parting ways with veteran wide receiver Michael Crabtree. His departure was expected to be part of a few sweeping moves to shake things up in the offseason.
However, there hadn't been much dialogue concerning this possibility over the last several weeks even as the free agency period nears closer in just over two weeks. And according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, the Raiders are now expected to keep Crabtree aboard for at least through the 2018 campaign.
Crabtree is set to enter the third year of his four-year, $34 million deal that will pay him $7.6 million in base salary and bonuses. He is also on the books for $8.2 million in 2019. The 30-year-old saw a notable dip in production this past season recording a team-best 58 catches for 618 receiving yards and a team-high eight touchdowns in 14 games played.
He was a nonfactor in the passing game in several games last season. He recorded fewer than 50 receiving yards six times and was also held without a reception in two games, which ended his streak of 121 consecutive games with at least one catch. He also received a one-game suspension for a brawl with Denver Broncos Pro Bowl cornerback Aqib Talib after his chained was snatched off his neck.
This came a year after he posted 89 receptions for 1,003 receiving yards, which marked just his second campaign with 1,000 receiving yards. The decision to retain Crabtree should signal that the team plans to feature him heavily in the offense under new head coach Jon Gruden, which could set the table for a bounce-back campaign alongside former Pro Bowl wideout Amari Cooper.
Oakland also has a pending decision to make on running back Marshawn Lynch, who is set to enter the second year of his two-year, $9 million deal. The team has until March 18 to decide whether to keep him aboard in 2018 as his $1 million roster bonus will come into effect.
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