The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking for a wide receiver once Antonio Brown is traded, and Michael Crabtree has now become an option.
Last season, Michael Crabtree had his worst 16 game season since joining the NFL. With only 607 yards and three touchdowns, the 31-year-old fell victim to a Baltimore offense that was fully focused on running the ball.
With the addition of Lamar Jackson, the Ravens seemed to avoid throwing the ball as much as possible. After benching Joe Flacco midseason, the team became run-option oriented, leaving wide receivers like Michael Crabtree and John Brown spending most of their time run-blocking.
Reported by Adam Schefter, the Ravens have now decided to release Crabtree after one season.
Ravens informed veteran WR Michael Crabtree that he is being released today, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 25, 2019
This could be good news for the Steelers. With Antonio Brown on the trading block, Pittsburgh is looking to add an outside receiver to the mix while James Washington continues to develop. Expecting Washington, the 2018 second-round pick, to develop over the next year, the Steelers will likely try to add a gap player in 2019. Crabtree now becomes a top option to stay in the AFC North and join the Steelers on a short-term contract.
Crabtree can fill that void well. A deep-threat receiver with strong hands and a track record with big catches, the now free agent could be an addition that plays alongside JuJu Smith-Schuster and Washington.
Crabtree’s market won’t cost much and after his worst season, he’ll likely be looking for a prove-it contract. If Pittsburgh could pull off a one to two year deal for the wideout, he’ll be the perfect edition to add to the mix.
Expect the Steelers to at least consider Crabtree as their Antonio Brown replacement this season. Keeping him in the AFC North, still having a few years of value left, Pittsburgh becomes an immediate option once they trade their current receiver.