In crossing the bay (not really, anymore), Michael Crabtree has gone from “third option” to potential superstar.
Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that the former 49er has been the early “star” of camp for the Raiders.
There’s a long way to go until Crabtree becomes a star during games that count. Drops and limited opportunities punctuated his last season in San Francisco, which ended with 68 catches for 698 yards.
In six seasons with the 49ers, the 2009 top-10 pick had only one 1,000 yard receiving season, cracking the barrier with 1,105 in 2012. Once he became a free agent, Crabtree generated little interest, eventually signing a one-year, $3.2 million contract with the Raiders.
It could end up being the best money the Raiders have spent in free agency in a long, long time.