It’s been a real Moonlighting “will they or won’t they” story between the Arizona Cardinals and wide receiver Michael Crabtree. Finally, late Wednesday night, the two sides decided to make this dream real, with the former Texas Tech wideout joining a former Texas Tech coach on a one-year deal.
Crabtree returns to the NFC West where he began his career with the San Francisco 49ers as a first-round pick in 2009. In his six years with the 49ers, Crabtree developed a heated rivalry with then Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman.
We have agreed to terms with WR Michael Crabtree on a one-year contract.
DETAILS: https://t.co/Ry9NNWy66V pic.twitter.com/vSdGxCKJoi
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) August 22, 2019
After he left as a free agent to join the Oakland Raiders, Crabtree developed a new rivalry with then Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib. Sherman is now with the 49ers and Talib is with the Los Angeles Rams, so this could get very interesting.
Crabtree is coming off two consecutive down seasons. Last year with the run-first and run-second Baltimore Ravens, he caught 54 passes for 607 yards and three touchdowns.
If Kliff Kingsbury is going to make his offense hum with rookie quarterback Kyler Murray, he needs pass-catchers and before the addition of Crabtree, his only veterans of any experience were Larry Fitzgerald and former Los Angeles Rams wideout Pharoh Cooper. Now, Fitzgerald is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer, but after Cooper the depth chart is full of rookies and second-year players. Crabtree should be pencilled in as a starter immediately.
Crabtree fills the slot opened up by cutting former Chicago Bears first round pick Kevin White earlier in the day Wednesday.
Cards and Eagles swap players
Arizona hasn’t shut down the NFL transaction machine just yet. Thursday the Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles worked a trade that sent safety Rudy Ford to The City of Brotherly Love in exchange for defensive tackle Bruce Hector.
Ford was a 2017 sixth round pick for the Cardinals out of Auburn. He played in 23 games over two seasons with one start, recording nine tackles.
We have agreed to a trade with the Eagles to acquire DL Bruce Hector in exchange for S Rudy Ford.
DETAILS: https://t.co/LsnI7ixYEO pic.twitter.com/rkJIlbwoZB
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) August 22, 2019
Hector was originally an undrafted free agent out South Florida in 2018. He appeared in eight games last season, recording two tackles and half a sack.
