The Ravens have released wide receiver Michael Crabtree, per the NFL's transaction wire.
Releasing Crabtree saves the Ravens about $4.7 million on their 2019 salary cap. He was slated to count for $9.3 million in 2019 and earned $8 million during his season in Baltimore, per Spotrac.
It also confirms that Baltimore will go through its second overhaul of its wide receiver corps in as many offseasons.
Baltimore signed Crabtree, 31, to a three-year deal last offseason, hoping the steady veteran could lead their wide receiver unit. However, he turned in an uneven season defined more by its shortcomings than successes.
In 16 starts, Crabtree caught just 54 passes for 607 yards and three touchdowns. In seven regular-season games with Lamar Jackson as the starter, Crabtree had 13 catches for 135 yards and one touchdown. His production has dropped each of the past two seasons.
Crabtree led the NFL in drops, and had multiple drops in Cleveland in Week 5, including a potential game-winner.
The Ravens expected him to be a major red-zone weapon, but his three touchdowns were the fewest he's ever had in a full season. Crabtree did catch two touchdowns in the Ravens' wild-card playoff loss, but it may have been too little too late.
With wide receiver John Brown a pending unrestricted free agent, the Ravens will have a much different look at wideout again in 2018. Willie Snead IV is the only big-time producer (62 receptions, 651 yards, one touchdown) from last year that is under contract.
Crabtree was well-liked by his teammates in the Ravens locker room, and was a vocal supporter of Jackson. He called himself a "witness," and said it was "the Lamar show."
