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Report: Washington Redskins interested in Michael Crabtree

By Will Osgood

Nov 23, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) catches the ball against Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) during the second quarter at Levi
Nov 23, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) catches the ball against Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) during the second quarter at Levi /
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The Washington Redskins have expressed interest in free agent wide receiver Michael Crabtree. 

As the NFL free agency period dwindles in craziness and excitement and moves along to “phase two,” the less intriguing NFL free agents are now the targets of teams who have purged on high-priced free agents and/or those who have simply waited for the craziness to die down.

And so the market for former No. 10 overall pick Michael Crabtree is now picking up. ESPN Nation reporter John Keim said on Twitter Saturday that Crabtree has the interest of at least two teams.

The Redskins currently have DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon at receiver and not much else to make opposing defenses squirm. Still, Crabtree is considered a “B level” receiver at this point in his career.

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Likely part of that stems from playing in the conservative and, at times, confusing San Franciso 49ers offense under former coordinator Greg Roman and Jim Harbaugh.

Crabtree had 68 catches in 2014, but only 698 yards (10.3 yard average) with four touchdowns.

But there’s a reason that he was taken 10th overall out of Texas Tech in the 2009 NFL draft. At 6’2″, 215 pounds, he has the size and requisite speed to be a playmaker in an NFL offense.

It is for that reason that the San Diego Chargers would also be interested. They just lost their slot receiver, Eddie Royal, to the Chicago Bears.

If they were to sign Crabtree, third-year receiver Keenan Allen could likely play the slot in three-receiver packages. Spotrac estimates the Chargers’ current 51-man cap to yield approximately $17 million in cap space, after the team signed free agent cornerback Jimmy Wilson on Friday.

Wilson’s deal is said to be a team-friendly two-year $4.85 million contract. The Chargers also signed guard Orlando Franklin on Tuesday. And before free agency officially began it signed Jacoby Jones, also a receiver.

Jones, though, is assumed to be in San Diego primarily to aide in the return game.

Washington signed cornerback Chris Culliver to a four-year, $32 million deal on Friday, and is playing with an estimated $12 million in cap space.

The Redskins’ quarterback situation, however, is greatly in flux, whereas San Diego has the steady Philip Rivers leading its offense. It also appears much closer to contending for a championship than the Redskins.

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