Chicago Bears: Ranking the top 10 potential wide receiver targets

This next guy should come with a warning label — just ask Aquib Talib.

But, in the event that Michael Crabtree is cut loose by the Oakland Raiders, he may be a target for the Bears.

It was widely speculated leading up to the John Gruden hire that Crabtree could be a cap casualty in Oakland. Lately, that rumor seems to have died down. But, it still isn’t out of the question.

Though it appears unlikely, if Crabtree is cut, the Bears may make reason to take a flier on him.

It seems like Crabtree has been in the league for 15 years now, in a way. His career began with the San Francisco 49ers in a memorable way, with him holding out as a rookie. He missed five games in his rookie season because of it. The league should have known they would be getting quite the character at that point.

Since then, though, Crabtree has had a nice career. Still just 30 years old, he has a few years left in him and would give the Bears a lethal red zone threat. Each of the last three seasons, he has finished with nine, eight and eight touchdowns respectively. The knack for the end zone has been consistent.

Per Pro Football Reference, Crabtree was the fourth-most targeted receiver inside the 10 last year at 37.9 percent of his team’s total red zone targets. That is pretty telling as to what kind of player he has become as his career has gone on.

If you know the Bears, you know that failing to score touchdowns inside the 20 has been one of the most frustrating parts of watching the team over the last several seasons. If Crabtree were to somehow, some way get into a Bears uniform, that problem would likely fade dramatically.