Earlier this week, veteran wide receiver Michael Crabtree was released from the Oakland Raiders after just two seasons with the team. It didn't take long for him to find a new home in the NFL after agreeing to a three-year, $21 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens on Friday afternoon.
However, there has been some concern about Crabtree's performance on the field after he experienced a significant drop off in production in the 2017 season. According to Jamison Hensley of ESPN, the 30-year-old has a strong message for his critics deeming his best days could be behind him.
Michael Crabtree, who is 30, feels age doesn't determine a player's drive. "I feel like I’m in my prime right now and I’m ready to go," he said. "I feel young. I feel like I’m still 25." https://t.co/IUPtdYaSA7
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) March 16, 2018
In the 2017 season for the Raiders, Crabtree experienced a notable drop off in production recording a team-best 58 catches for 618 receiving yards and a team-high eight touchdowns in 14 games played. He was a non-factor in the passing game in several contests recording fewer than 50 receiving yards six times and was also held without a reception in two games. This had also ended his streak of 121 consecutive games with at least one reception.
The Ravens clearly have a strong belief that Crabtree can recapture his 2016 form where he put together one of the best season of his career recording a career-high 89 catches for 1,003 receiving yards with eight touchdowns. This marked just his second campaign with 1,000 receiving yards. He will have the opportunity to step into a significant role with Baltimore as possibly their top receiving option for quarterback Joe Flacco following the departure of Mike Wallace.
Michael Crabtree could become a huge threat in the red zone for the Ravens ranking fifth in the league with 25 touchdown catches in over the last three seasons. He has also shown to be a strong possession receiver since entering the league in 2009 as he ranks 10th in the NFL with 579 receptions over that span. All of this lends well to this addition for the Ravens being one of the most underrated moves so far this offseason.
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