Las Vegas Raiders: Top-25 players of the Derek Carr Era
By Brad Weiss
Las Vegas Raiders: Top-25 players of the Derek Carr Era
No. 13: Michael Crabtree, WR (2015-2017)
During the 2009 NFL Draft, Raiders fans were clamoring for the team to draft Texas Tech star wideout Michael Crabtree, one of the best collegiate wideouts in recent memory. However, they decided to pass on him for Darius Heyward-Bey, a decision that was seen as crazy at the time, and remains so to this draft.
It would take six seasons for Crabtree to finally make it to Oakland, coming to the team via another Bay Area squad, the San Francisco 49ers. Signing a one-year deal with Oakland, Crabtree proved those Raiders fans that wanted him back in 2009 right, putting together a three-year run that included some incredibly high moments.
All told, Crabtree racked up over 2,500 yards and 25 touchdowns in the Silver and Black, teaming with Amari Cooper to give the Raiders one of the best one-two wideout punches in the league. Speaking of punches, Crabtree also had his memorable moments, including fighting Aqib Talib, his two-point conversion against New Orleans in the 2016 season opener, and of course, the crazy ending to the Thursday Night Football battle against Kansas City in 2017.