Is Crabtree as good as he thinks he is?

Michael Crabtree finally signed a 6yr/$32 million dollar contract after threatening to sit out the entire year and re-enter the 2010 draft. Obviously he was not going to do that. Even if the next team to draft him did give him the extra 5 million to match Darius Hayword-Bay money, he would still come out even based on the fact that he sat out a season of football where he could have made those same 5 million. Thankfully it never came down to that scenario and we can all move on with our lives. Wait! Stop! Hammer Time...is Crabtree even an elite wide receiver?

His statistical numbers at Texas Tech are meaningless based on the system he played in. If a QB with the arm of Ken Dorsey can put up 450 yards passing a game in college and not even get a tryout in the NFL, then you know the offensive system put up all those points. Not withstanding, Crabtree is an NFL caliber athlete and deserved to do in the first round. Dude ran a fantastic 4.48 40 yard dash on a bad leg. Not nearly the blazing 4.23 of Bay, but still worthy of a first round pick given his receiving skills. Still, I am not convinced that he is actually as good as he thinks he is. He's tall but not Randy Moss tall. He's fast but not Andre Johnson fast. He's an athlete but not a Calvin Johnson athlete. He's creative after the catch but not Brandon Marshall creative. I just dont see what skills will make him the superstar receiver that he apparently thinks he is.

None of us have seen him in an NFL game, so I have to go based on comparisons. I cant see him as a deep threat in the NFL. Deep threats need to be lightning fast. Bernard Barrian is a deep threat, Crabtree doesnt have those type of wheels to beat Asante Samuel down field. I see him as a dominant possession receiver averaging 10-11 yards per catch as opposed to the 15-16 of pro-bowl WRers. Best comparison I can make is Greg Jennings without the big play ability. And that should be good enough for everyone except for Crabtree