Veteran NFL receiver Michael Crabtree made headlines on Monday when the Baltimore Ravens announced they’d released him.
The Baltimore Ravens released veteran wide receiver Michael Crabtree after one disappointing season, the team announced Monday.
Crabtree, 31, was scheduled to receive a $2.5 million roster bonus next month and earn $7.5 million in 2019 after leading the NFL with eight dropped passes last season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Baltimore will free up $4.667 million in salary-cap room by parting ways with Crabtree, who made 54 catches (his fewest in a full season since his 2009 rookie year) for 607 yards receiving and three touchdowns.
The Ravens are looking to make over the wide receiver position for new franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson. Crabtree totaled 13 catches for 135 yards and one touchdown in seven starts with Jackson.
Ahh…..don’t do it, Stoney….don’t do it….don’t fall into the same trap as Titans Facebook. Just watch this:
The way I’ll remember Michael Crabtree’s tenure in Baltimore. pic.twitter.com/HDJCghXkzv
— Kip Smithers (@Chughes612) February 25, 2019
Yeah….but, remember that time the Cincinnati Bengals announced they were going to try and trade John Ross? You didn’t even flinch – you just said, “nope” while the rest of Titans Twitter looked around at each other like, “Hmmm….yeah, maybe we should talk to ol’ Cincy.”
You’re due for one. You can have this take.
Thank you all for enduring this perfectly healthy self-talk. Now, onto the hot take: I think Jon Robinson and the by God two-tone blue Tennessee Titans should take a look at Crabtree.
For the better part of his career, Crabtree was known as a proven, stable route runner. He was a consistent red zone threat and touchdown producer. You could put him outside and trust he could come down with the ball. The Titans need that sort of reliability and veteran presence opposite Corey Davis. Sure, an upgrade in speed would be nice, and Crabtree does not possess elite NFL speed (don’t sleep on the growth and potential of Taywan Taylor, either). But, there’s nothing that suggests the Titans can’t address that in the draft or even free agency (or even a trade for Ross tehehe).
In fact, I’m of the opinion that the Titans should make multiple additions to the receiving corps. The offense needs a shot in the arm.
Is Crabtree the ‘locker room leader’ type? Ehhhhhh, that I don’t know. But, then again, Rishard Matthews had that sort of veteran presence and look how that ended. Veteran presence can be a bit overrated at times. Plus, let’s be real – the Titans offense is getting its heart and soul back in Delanie Walker next season. So, they can afford to add a guy like Crabtree so long as he’s not too expensive.
That’s the thing – I want to know what the cost would be. But, if they can get him as a dwindling veteran in the twilight of his career for a few million a season, I say give it a go.
Regardless, I promise I will not bite on every single released veteran and free agent this offseason. That is a SoBros guarantee. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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