To wide receivers had their wishes come true yesterday, and these wishes have been a long time coming too. Braylon Edwards finally forced the Browns’ hand and got them to trade him away while the 49ers were able to put ink to a contract with Michael Crabtree.
Edwards has wanted out of Cleveland since the off-season but the Browns stood fast against dealing him, even when his value would’ve been highest around the draft. But now, after the drop-heavy receiver has been accused of getting in an altercation with a friend of Cleveland’s biggest star, LeBron James, the Browns finally said enough and shipped him to the Jets. In return, they landed an average receiver in Chansi Stuckey and a special-teams linebacker in Jason Trusnik plus two undisclosed draft choices which shouldn’t hold too much value. So, after this whole saga played out, it’s pretty safe to look back and say the Browns really mucked up this one by not dealing Edwards when his value was highest.
Then there’s the case of Michael Crabtree, who finally ended his holdout and signed with the Niners. Reportedly, the deal is for six years and is worth between $32- and $40-million. If Crabtree makes the Pro Bowl, he could even get out a year earlier and hit the free agent waters. So why did the Niners finally cave and give Crabtree the extra $12 million he wanted? Is that really the message you want to send to guys coming out of the draft that were mocked to go higher? This deal could actually set a horrible precedent to other diva type players who fell in the draft, no doubt likely to their attitudes.
As for either receiver in fantasy leagues, I’d stay well away. While Edwards was no doubt drafted in your league, he’s no more than a questionable WR2 depending on his matchup. Wide outs that are traded mid-season never fully learn the playbook in time and rarely develop good chemistry with their new QBs in the first season. As for Crabtree, who knows how well he knows the playbook and if coach Singletary will even trust him after this ordeal. I wouldn’t consider picking either up unless they show major flashes of brilliance.