Baltimore Ravens Focusing on WR Michael Crabtree After Grant Fails Physical
By Ben Palmer
The Baltimore Ravens are reportedly focusing on signing former Oakland Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree after recently-signed receiver Ryan Grant failed his physical.
The Baltimore Ravens are reportedly focusing on signing former Oakland Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree after the recently-signed wide receiver Ryan Grant failed his physical.
The Baltimore Ravens announced that they had signed Grant to a four-year, $29 million deal with $14.5 million guaranteed yesterday, however the former Washington Redskins receiver failed his physical today according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, which makes his contract with the Ravens null and void. According to Schefter, Grant failed his physical due to an ankle injury he had suffered during the Redskins’ final regular-season game.
Now that Grant is no longer going to be signing with the Baltimore Ravens, the team is expected to pursue wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who was released by the Oakland Raiders earlier today. According to Schefter, Crabtree is scheduled to meet with the Ravens on Friday.
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Grant failing his physical could be a blessing in disguise for the Baltimore Ravens, as they were set to give a lot of money (including guaranteed money) to a receiver who is widely unproven. Grant had the best season of his career last year, finishing the season with 45 catches for 573 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 12.7 yards per catch.
Crabtree, on the other hand, has proven that he can be a very good receiver in the NFL, having logged two 1,000-yard+ seasons during his nine years in the NFL. Crabtree saw his role reduced some last season with the Raiders, as Amari Cooper established himself as the top receiver in Oakland.
Crabtree finished last year with 58 catches for 618 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 10.7 yards per catch, but he’s just one season removed from the second-best year of his career in 2016, when he finished the year with 89 catches for 1,003 yards and eight touchdowns.
Crabtree is a proven, veteran wide receiver and that’s exactly what the Baltimore Ravens need right now. I had thought they might pursue Jordy Nelson, who was released by the Green Bay Packers recently, but he signed with the Raiders (which is why Crabtree was released).
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This whole debacle with Grant is going to work in the Ravens’ favor, especially if they end up signing Crabtree because of it.