Report: Michael Crabtree Unable to Agree to Terms with Cardinals, Remains FA

Michael Crabtree remains a free agent after talks with the Arizona Cardinals failed to result in an agreement on a new contract.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Tuesday that Crabtree received an offer, "but the two sides could not agree to terms."

Pro Football Talk reported the two sides had reached a deal Monday. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network contradicted that news, saying the Cardinals worked out Crabtree but have "no plans" to sign him and were doing "due diligence."

The Baltimore Ravens announced they released Crabtree after just one season back in February. Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac noted the move cleared $4.6 million in cap space for the AFC North team even though he left behind $4.6 million of dead cap.

The Texas Tech product entered the league in 2009 when the San Francisco 49ers selected him with the No. 10 overall pick in the draft. He spent his first six seasons with the 49ers, and his best effort came in 2012 when he tallied 85 catches for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns.

Crabtree topped 700 receiving yards in three of those years and continued playing at a high level with the Oakland Raiders from 2015 through 2017 when he had at least eight touchdown catches in each of his three seasons. He topped 1,000 yards once in silver and black and averaged 847.7 receiving yards per year during that span.

He took a step back in 2018 for the Ravens, though, and finished with 54 catches for 607 yards and three touchdowns.

One reason for the decline in numbers was the awkward fit in the offense after Baltimore switched to run-first quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jamison Hensley of ESPN noted Crabtree had just 13 catches for 135 yards and one score in seven Jackson starts, although the fact that he led the league with eight dropped passes didn't help his production.

Crabtree is past his prime and turns 32 years old in September, but he would bring a veteran presence to any locker room and isn't far removed from his impressive showings on the Raiders.

If he can improve on his drops, he would serve as a physical red-zone threat at 6'1" with the ability to battle for contested throws. He is also playoff-tested with 10 postseason games on his resume in which he finished with 44 catches for 587 yards and six touchdowns.

While Crabtree reached three straight NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl during his time on the 49ers, he never won a Lombardi Trophy.