The Oakland Raiders gave new receiver Michael Crabtree a one-year deal worth $3.2 million in 2015, with $1.3 million in guaranteed money via his signing bonus, $1.4 million in salary and workout and roster bonuses worth $250,000 apiece.
However, the potential is there for Crabtree to earn even more money—up to $2 million—in incentives. It’s just that those incentive escalators are going to be difficult for Crabtree to hit.
CSN Bay Area’s Scott Bair breaks it down thusly: Crabtree can earn a $400,000 bonus if he notches either 70 catches or 900 receiving yards in 2015. He can earn a $1.4 million bonus if he has either 100 catches or 1,400 receiving yards. He can also earn an additional $400,000 if he reaches the Pro Bowl.
Crabtree has had only two seasons—in 2011 and 2012—where he exceeded 70 catches. He had 68 last year. He has only surpassed 900 yards just once, in 2012. He has never had either 100 catches or 1,400 yards in a season. And in his six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, he was never selected to the Pro Bowl.
Given the nature of the incentives, it’s clear that Crabtree will have to produce like a true, No. 1 wideout in order to reach them. He was unable to emerge as a No. 1 in San Francisco, however, and though his new quarterback in Oakland, Derek Carr, certainly has some promise as a downfield passer, it looks like it will be difficult for Crabtree to earn that extra $2 million on offer from Oakland.
At the very least, the one-year contract does provide Crabtree the motivation to earn another long-term deal from Oakland or any other team. Perhaps money will provide Crabtree with a new drive to reach his potential, given that the 2009 Round 1 draft pick has yet to play like a top-10 selection.
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