RAVENS SIGN WR MICHAEL CRABTREE
The Baltimore Ravens signed WR Michael Crabtree to a three-year contract Friday, general manager and executive vice president Ozzie Newsome announced.
Crabtree, 30, has played nine NFL seasons – six with San Francisco (2009-14) and three with Oakland (2015-17). The former first-round draft pick (10th overall, Texas Tech) has registered 579 receptions for 6,870 yards (11.9 avg.) and 51 touchdowns in 125 career games (122 starts).
"Michael has played very well against the Ravens, so we know firsthand the attributes he brings to the game," Newsome stated. "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."
Crabtree has produced at least eight receiving touchdowns in a season four times, including in each of the past three years (nine – 2015, eight – 2016 & eight – 2017). His 25 receiving touchdowns over these three seasons rank as the NFL's fifth most. Additionally, Crabtree and Steelers WR Antonio Brown are the only NFL players to post at least eight touchdown catches in each of the past three seasons.
The 6-1, 215-pounder has totaled at least 85 catches in a season three times, with a career-high 89 during the 2016 campaign. He has also twice surpassed 1,000 receiving yards, tallying a career-high 1,105 (on 85 receptions) in 2012.
Since he entered the NFL in 2009, Crabtree's 51 receiving scores rank 10th among active wide receivers, while his receptions (579) are seventh, and his receiving yards (6,870) are 12th.