Ravens news: Michael Crabtree schedules visit with Baltimore

The Baltimore Ravens appear to be acting fast with the team expressing interest in the recently released wide receiver Michael Crabtree from the Oakland Raiders.

In direct correlation to the Oakland Raiders signing former Pro Bowl wide receiver Jordy Nelson, Michael Crabtree now finds himself on the open market. It has put him among the best available players at his position in free agency that could quickly result in plenty of interest across the league.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the 30-year-old is set to visit with the Baltimore Ravens on Friday.

Former Raiders' WR Michael Crabtree is scheduled to visit Friday with the Baltimore Ravens, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2018

The Ravens have expressed their interest to add another wide receiver to mix this offseason after pursuing the Pro Bowler Jarvis Landry before the Miami Dolphins dealt him away to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a 2018 fourth-round pick and 2019 seventh-round selection.This piqued interest in Crabtree could also be due to the failed physical by wideout Ryan Grant that voided the four-year, $29 million deal with $14.5 million guaranteed.

Crabtree is coming off a season where he had a notable drop 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 ended his streak of 121 consecutive games with at least one reception.

Despite that decline in production, a change of scenery could help him return his form in 2016 where he notched 89 receptions for 1,003 receiving yards, which would was his second time surpassing with 1,000 receiving yards. He could quickly step into a prominent role as the top receiver with the Ravens currently lacking depth at the position with the likes of Breshad Perriman, Chris Moore, and Quincy Adeboyejo.

The Ravens currently have just over $17 million in salary cap space at their disposal to make Crabtree a respectable offer. This could be just the first of a few stops for him as he is anticipated to have some interest in playing in his home state of Texas.