Oakland Raiders: 15 best free agent acquisitions of all-time

Coming out of Texas Tech, Michael Crabtree was one of the most sought after wide receivers in his draft class. So much so that the San Francisco 49ers selected him with the 10th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Crabtree enjoyed a successful six seasons in San Francisco, helping them to a Super Bowl along the way, before joining the Raiders in 2015.

The Raiders needed to give their new franchise quarterback Derek Carr some more weapons on offense. In the 2015 offseason, they added Crabtree and fourth overall pick Amari Cooper to the fold, transforming the Oakland offense. The new pairing proved to be very successful, as both were able to thrive in a high-flying offense.

In Crabtree’s three seasons as a Raider, he proved that he belongs in the record books of the Silver and Black. Not only did he bring a sure set of hands and jump-ball ability, he brought a swagger to Oakland that had been missing for many years. Yes, that may have cost him a bit, as it led to his release in 2017, but it was instrumental in his success with the Raiders.

Three seasons, 2,543 yards and 25 touchdowns later, Crabtree proved to be one of the most successful free agent acquisitions in Oakland history. He helped turn what was a very important corner for the franchise, helping them bridge the gap from 7-9 in 2015 to 12-4 in 2016. Without Crabtree, it is hard to imagine that Raiders team making the playoffs in 2016.