Any hope for a long-term deal in this free agent must have been lost for former San Francisco wide receiver Michael Crabtree. Crabtree is staying in the Bay Area, but switching teams, agreeing to a one-year, $3 million contract with the Oakland Raiders Monday. The deal could end up worth as much as $5 million with incentives.
It's official.. I'm a Raider
— Michael Crabtree (@KingCrab15) April 14, 2015
Crabtree was still recovering from an ACL tear from 2013 last season and it didn’t help his numbers that his quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, couldn’t make his pass reads and when he did, was as likely to throw the football to his shoelaces or in the stands.
Crabtree caught 68 passes for 698 yards and four touchdowns, averaging a career-low 10.3 yards per catch. Crabtree was the first round pick for the 49ers in the notorious, bust-filled 2009 NFL draft.
The Raiders have seemingly been a part of every single big-time free agent wide receiver negotiation, without actually signing one before Monday. They met with both Randall Cobb, who re-signed with the Green Bay Packers and Jeremy Maclin, who signed with their AFC West rival, the Kansas City Chiefs.
Crabtree should start on the opposite side of former Packer James Jones, who signed with the Raiders as a free agent last year, catching 73 passes for 666 yards and six touchdowns.
The Raiders could also look at a wide receiver with the No. 4 pick in the upcoming draft, but I don’t think they will since Al Davis is dead and new head coach Jack Del Rio has to build a defense. Oakland is a prime candidate to take a receiver in the second round and if Mark Davis has any of his dad’s genetics, it will be University of Miami wideout Phillip Dorsett.
Forte skips Bears Optional Workout
While the option to attend the workout was “voluntary,” it still made news Monday when running back Matt Forte skipped the Chicago Bears offseason program, instead choosing to work out at Bommarito Performance in Miami, Fla.
The team workouts are only strength and conditioning, but with a new head coach and offensive coordinator, it does seem suspicious that Forte would willfully choose to not join his team for the program. Forte downplayed his absence on Twitter.
Relax everybody… It's called voluntary W/O for a reason. I've always been there especially when it counts!
— Matt Forte (@MattForte22) April 14, 2015
It could have a little something to do with Forte entering the final year of his contract. Forte is due $7.05 million this season and no talks of an extension have been mentioned by either side publicly. Last year, Forte carried the ball 266 times for 1,038 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 3.9 yards per carry. He caught 102 passes for 808 yards and four touchdowns.
Kuhn back with Green Bay Packers
Fullback John Kuhn has been one of the unsung heroes of the Green Bay Packers’ resurgence over the last six years and Monday they made sure they wouldn’t take the field in 2015 without him. Kuhn signed a one-year, $870,000 contract with the Packers Monday, likely avoiding a fan revolt if the popular player ended up playing for another team.
Other Moves
- The Denver Broncos signed H-back James Casey to a one-year deal.
- Defensive end Cedric Thornton will stay with the Philadelphia Eagles after signing a one-year contract.
- The New York Jets added linebacker Joe Mays to the roster.
- The Packers matched the $2.55 million offer from the Oakland Raiders and will keep restricted free agent safety Sean Richardson for at least one more season.
- Former New York Giants cornerback Zack Bowman signed with the Miami Dolphins.
2015 OTA and Minicamp Schedules
Baltimore Ravens
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: May 26-28, June 1-3, June 8-11
Buffalo Bills
Minicamps: April 28-30, June 16-18
OTAs: May 26-27, May 29, June 1, June 3-4, June 8-11
Cincinnati Bengals
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: May 26-28, June 2-4, June 8-11
Cleveland Browns
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: May 26-27, May 29, June 1-2, June 4, June 8-9, June 11-12
Denver Broncos
Minicamps: April 28-30, June 9-11
OTAs: May 27-29, June 1-2, June 4, June 15-18
Houston Texans
Minicamps: June 16-19
OTAs: May 26-28, June 1-2, June 4, June 8-9, June 11-12
Indianapolis Colts
Minicamps: June 9-11
OTAs: May 18-20, May 26-28, June 1-4
Jacksonville Jaguars
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: May 26-28, June 1-2, June 4, June 8-9, June 11-12
Kansas City Chiefs
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: May 26-28, June 2-4, June 9-12
Miami Dolphins
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: May 26-27, May 29, June 1-2, June 4, June 8-11
New England Patriots
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: May 26, May 28-29, June 1, June 3-4, June 8-9, June 11-12
New York Jets
Minicamps: April 28-30, June 9-11
OTAs: May 19-21, May 26-28, June 2-5
Oakland Raiders
Minicamps: April 21-23, June 9-11
OTAs: May 19-21, May 26-28, June 1-4
Pittsburgh Steelers
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: May 26-28, June 2-4, June 8-11
San Diego Chargers
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: May 26-28, June 1-3, June 8-11
Tennessee Titans
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: May 26-28, June 1-2, June 4, June 8-11
Arizona Cardinals
Minicamps: June 9-11
OTAs: May 19-21, May 26-28, June 1-4
Atlanta Falcons
Minicamps: April 27-30, June 16-18
OTAs: May 26-29, June 2-3, June 5, June 9-12
Carolina Panthers
Minicamps: June 16-19
OTAs: May 26-28, June 2-4, June 8-11
Chicago Bears
Minicamps: April 28-30, June 16-18
OTAs: May 27-29, June 1-3, June 8-11
Dallas Cowboys
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: May 26-28, June 2-4, June 8-10
Detroit Lions
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: June 26-28, June 2-4, June 8-11
Green Bay Packers
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: May 27-29, June 2-4, June 9-12
Minnesota Vikings
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: May 26-28, June 2-4, June 8-11
New Orleans Saints
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: May 26-28, June 2-4, June 8-11
New York Giants
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: May 27-29, June 1-2, June 4, June 8-9, June 11-12
Philadelphia Eagles
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: May 26-28, June 1-2, June 4, June 8-11
St. Louis Rams
Minicamps: None
OTAs: June 2, June 4-5, June 8-9, June 11, June 15-16, June 18-19
San Francisco 49ers
Minicamps: April 28-30, June 9-11
OTAs: May 19-21, May 27-29, June 1-2, June 4-5
Seattle Seahawks
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: May 26-27, May 29, June 1-2, June 4, June 8-11
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: May 26-28, June 2-4, June 8-11
Washington Redskins
Minicamps: June 16-18
OTAs: May 26-28, June 2-4, June 8-11
