Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said Friday morning that he would have had interest in wide receiver Michael Crabtree regardless of whether Ryan Grant passed his physical or not. What he didn’t say, but what should be quite obvious, is with Grant’s deal falling apart because of concerns over his ankle, the sense of urgency to find another receiver ratcheted up.
Newsome and the Ravens front office responded quickly to the Grant fallout, signing Crabtree to a three-year deal Friday after the veteran receiver spent the day at the Under Armour Performance Center meeting with team officials.
“Michael has played very well against the Ravens, so we know firsthand the attributes he brings to the game,” Newsome said in a statement. “He is a smart, tough, physical receiver who battles for the ball. We like his temperament and believe he is a good fit for our football team, on and off the field.”
The signing is the Ravens’ boldest move yet in their offseason overhaul of their receiving corps. The latest on a growing list of receivers the organization has signed in the latter stages of their career, Crabtree immediately becomes quarterback Joe Flacco’s top receiving threat. The Ravens also officially added deep threat John Brown, who was officially introduced Friday, and Newsome said the team is still active in pursuing a pass-catching tight end.
Crabtree, 30, was released Thursday afternoon by the Oakland Raiders after they signed Jordy Nelson. Within hours, Crabtree was on a flight to Baltimore to begin a free-agent visit with the Ravens, who viewed him as the type of fiery, physical receiver they lack.
A nine-year pro, Crabtree is coming off his least productive season since his injury-shortened 2013. He had only 58 catches for 618 yards and eight touchdown receptions in 14 games. However, he’s had 25 touchdown receptions over the past three years and he has a well-earned reputation as a clutch performer on both third downs and in the red zone.
After spending his first six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and the last three with the Raiders, Crabtree has 579 career receptions for 6,870 yards and 51 touchdown catches. He currently ranks 10th among active NFL players in receptions and 17th in receiving yards.
He was the intended receiver on quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s fourth-and-goal incomplete pass that culminated the Ravens’ late goal-line stand in their Super Bowl XLVII victory over the 49ers. Crabtree, though, has made them pay since.
As a Raider, he faced the Ravens in three consecutive seasons from 2015 to 2017 and he had 22 catches for 281 yards and five touchdown receptions.
“Our fans in Baltimore have seen what he’s been able to do against us and against some pretty good corners that we have,” Newsome said earlier Friday before the deal was finalized. “That would probably let you know why we have a certain level of interest.”
The Ravens also have plenty other links to Crabtree. Coach John Harbaugh’s brother, Jim, was Crabtree’s coach for part of his time in San Francisco. Ravens assistant head coach and tight ends coach Greg Roman was Crabtree’s offensive coordinator with the 49ers from 2011-14.
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