Crabtree’s deal could be worth up to $40 million
Published: October 7th, 2009 | Tags: B.J. Raji, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers
I’ve been tracking the Michael Crabtreestory the last few days, and now have a breakdown of his six-year contract. Crabtree, the No. 10 overall draft pick, received $17 million guaranteed from the 49ers in a deal that has a minimum base value of $32 and a maximum value of $40 million.
Crabtree’s contract voids to five years if he has Pro Bowl seasons in two of the first four years. In that case, the base value would be $28 million.
The five-year terms for Crabtree’s contract compare favorably to the deal signed by DT B.J. Raji with Green Bay as the ninth overall pick. Raji’s five-year deal was worth a max of $28.5 million, with $18 million guaranteed, while Crabtree would get $28 million with $17 million guaranteed.
Crabtree’s contract does not come close to the $22.5 million guaranteed given to WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, the seventh overall pick by the Oakland Raiders whose deal Crabtree was hoping to attain despite being taken several spots later.
The 49ers had previously offered a five-year deal with about $16 million guaranteed, and the sides worked hard through the night, making some tradeoff in terms of the length of the contract, as well as the guaranteed money, according to the league source. Crabtree expressed a strong desire to be a 49er during his meeting with team officials, which proceeded the heavy negotiating.