Oakland Raiders: McKenzie’s 5 “Riskiest” Moves So Far This Offseason
By Kevin Saito
Nov 16, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) is pursued by New York Giants corner back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (21) during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Signing Michael Crabtree
The Raider Nation seems about equally divided on the Michael Crabtree signing. Some are very vocally for it. And others are very vocally against it.
Given his drop in production, not to mention the lack of explosiveness following his 2013 Achille’s injury, it seems somewhat absurd to hear some folks say that the minute he steps onto the field, he is Oakland’s best receiver. Until proven otherwise, we tend to think Oakland’s best receiver at this point in time is either James Jones or Rod Streater.
But we admire their enthusiasm, for sure.
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There is no question that the Raiders needed some receiving help. And Crabtree could possibly be that help. He’s not a number one, nor is he going to stretch the field for you. But he could be a solid mid-range possession type receiver. Crabtree could potentially be a tremendous addition to Oakland’s receiving corps.
Of course, he could also be an unmitigated disaster as well. If his childish, immature, and “diva” antics persist in Oakland as they did in San Francisco, he could be a real threat to team chemistry. It’s not like it would be the first time he was considered a malcontent and locker room cancer.
It’s a $3 million dollar deal with another couple of million in incentives, so ultimately the financial risk is very minimal. But if Crabtree can regain the form he had a couple of seasons ago, when he broke the 1,000 yard mark as a receiver, he could be a huge asset for the Raiders.
Next: Signing Another Draft Bust