The Arizona Cardinals have had some tough luck when it comes to free agent wide receivers. In the last little more than a year, the Cardinals have thrown away more than $3 million to receivers who never contributed really anything to the team.
The latest was receiver Michael Crabtree. He was released Monday just three games into the season. He was active for two of them and had four catches for 22 yards.
The news was announced following coach Kliff Kingsbury's Monday press conference.
Crabtree joined Arizona on Aug. 21. He reportedly received a $500,000 signing bonus and a $1.75 million salary that became guaranteed after he was on the Week 1 roster.
The Cardinals' website said Crabtree didn't seem to fit in well with the offense, especially with Damiere Byrd and KeeSean Johnson emerging to join among Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk as team's top four receivers.
Now 32-years-old, there may not be much of a market for Crabtree, who spent the 2018 season with the Baltimore Ravens. Despite the fact that he signed a three-year, $21 million deal last offseason, Baltimore decided to part ways with him in February.
Crabtree was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.
He spent his first six NFL seasons by the Bay, and had his best year in 2012 when he caught 85 passes for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns. Crabtree then signed with the Oakland Raiders in 2015, and he played three seasons for the Silver and Black. He put up another 1,000-yard season in 2016.
Over 143 career games, Crabtree has recorded 637 receptions for 7,499 yards and 54 touchdowns.
The Cardinals fell to 0-2-1 on Sunday after the 38-20 loss they suffered at the hands of the Carolina Panthers. Arizona recorded just 248 yards of total offense, while Murray passed for just 173 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
While the Cardinals are still winless, there have been strides made when it comes to the offense. Murray has 830 passing yards -- only nine quarterbacks have thrown for more through three weeks -- but he also has thrown for just four touchdowns with three interceptions.
