Carolina Panthers: Best fit for Michael Crabtree?

After declining an offer from the Dolphins for “close to $3 million,” wide receiver Michael Crabtree has headed back to the Bay Area to visit the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders have still have plenty of cash to spend and could be an intriguing landing spot, but I can think of one that may be even better. The Carolina Panthers haven’t made any big splashes in free agency, but they’ve been rather active adding players to their roster in areas of need, Michael Oher at left tackle stands out.

But even with the addition of Ted Ginn and Jarrett Boykin there remains a sentiment that Carolina could stand to improve at the wide receiver position. Michael Crabtree entered 2014 looking for a break-out season and a big money contract, what he got was an injury marred campaign that saw his usually reliable hands fail him on more than one occasion. Crabtree is said to be seeking $4.5 million on a one year prove it deal, but if the Dolphins offer is any indication he’s not likely to get it.

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Recent reports suggest Crabtree is willing to wait as long as it takes to find the right situation. That may not mean he’s holding out for all $4.5 million, but the Dolphins are looking for a bargain after having to part ways with overpaid receivers Mike Wallace, Brandon Gibson and Brian Hartline and very rarely will a player take less money to play for the Raiders.

The Carolina Panthers don’t have a ton of money tied up in any particular receiver and Crabtree, if healthy could slot in as the number two receiver next to Kelvin Benjamin. This is not to suggest that the Panthers simply pay Crabtree what he wants, but rather it should be easier to talk down his price when asking him to catch passes from a top quarterback like Cam Newton, for a Panther team coming off back to back playoff appearances.

It also shouldn’t hurt that not only will he be rejoined with former 49ers teammate Ted Ginn, but that Ginn provides a promising example of Newton’s ability to help a receiver on a one year prove it deal land a lucrative contract the next offseason. Obviously Ginn didn’t work out in Arizona thanks to the rapid emergence of rookie John Brown, but the example was set all the same.

The Panthers aren’t in dire need of a wide receiver, so signing Crabtree isn’t a must, but a healthy Crabtree would be a huge boon for the offense and an incredible bargain if he can return to 2012 form. Crabtree is a good route runner with usually reliable hands, he was slowed by injuries in 2013 and 2014 which really hurt his ability to get separation and grow as a receiver.

The diva attitude is a concern, but Crabtree still has the ability to live up to his first round draft status. He has the versatility to line up inside or outside, and when healthy has enough speed to be much more than just a possession receiver. Providing Crabtree with a proven talent at QB in Cam Newton, a very good receivers coach in Ricky Proehl and a very big, very talented, but drop prone Kelvin Benjamin playing opposite him to pull defensive attention, could make Carolina the perfect spot for Michael Crabtree to jump start his career.

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