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Michael Crabtree – diva, devil or dream receiver – is everything the 49ers needed and could not have ever expected to receive.

He̢۪s a gift to this woebegone franchise, really. A potential playmaking, headline-generating superstar, dropped to the 49ers from the sky.

Fumbled away by Al Davis̢۪ Raiders, when you really get down to it.

Crabtree never should have been there for the 49ers, picking 10th overall in the NFL draft. He should have been some other team̢۪s happy discovery and instant celebration.

Of course, Crabtree might turn out to be a bit of a headache, and 49ers Coach Mike Singletary is already conceding the possibility. Crabtree certainly is not the fastest receiver, which General Manager Scot McCloughan acknowledged.

But those are silly reasons to pass on the most dangerous receiver – maybe the best overall talent – in this draft, though the Raiders most certainly did that, in favor of low-production speed-merchant Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Three picks later, the 49ers took Crabtree and immediately pictured the Texas Tech product bursting through NFL secondaries and into the end zone at fairly frequent intervals.

Just like he did in college, against the best of the Big 12 and everybody else who tried to tackle him. Forty-one touchdowns and 231 receptions in two seasons? That̢۪s a player.

“He’s the closest thing that I’ve seen to Anquan Boldin in college,â€Â McCloughan said, comparing Crabtree to the Arizona Cardinals’ brutish standout. “There’s faster guys in the draft (than Crabtree), no doubt about it. There’ll be faster guys in the NFL…. (But) he’s going to scare some guys because he has physical strength.â€Â

In other words, landing Crabtree with the 10th pick in this soft draft immediately becomes the 49ers̢۪ splashiest draft event since taking Alex Smith in 2005.

He could be their most instantly applaudable offensive top pick since perhaps Harris Barton in 1987 or a guy named Jerry Rice in 1985.

And Crabtree definitely is the 49ers̢۪ first premium receiver since Terrell Owens was booted away after the 2003 season, almost precisely when the 49ers̢۪ offense went dormant.

“It’s a great history behind the 49ers, man,â€Â Crabtree said by phone from New York. “A lot of people have played there. I’ve got big shoes to fill.â€Â

Singletary allowed that the team was considering several options at No. 10, including a prime tackle. But when Crabtree was available, there was no doubt.

“You look at Michael Oher, you look at a tackle, and you want to protect the quarterback,â€Â Singletary said. “But at the same time, you have an opportunity for a playmaker. And you’ve got to make that decision.â€Â

So maybe Crabtree was downgraded by many teams because he didn̢۪t run the 40-yard dash at the combine because of a stress fracture in his left foot that will limit him until training camp. And even if he was healthy, it wouldn̢۪t have been a blazing time.

But a great 40 time means nothing if a guy keeps getting tackled. Or can̢۪t run routes or catch the pass in traffic. Like Heyward-Bey, maybe?

“(Crabtree) didn’t run the 40, some organizations put a lot of stock in that,â€Â McCloughan said. “We put a lot of stock into what we see on tape. I don’t know if that’s right or wrong, but that’s our philosophy.â€Â
The physicality is the key, Singletary said.

“He’s a thick guy, you may think of a Michael Irvin-type receiver,â€Â Singletary said. “He’s big enough, he’s got the attitude, he’s got great hands. That may come to mind when you see him.â€Â

That does not come to mind when you think of Isaac Bruce, Jason Hill, Josh Morgan, Brandon Jones and Arnaz Battle.

By the way, Crabtree clearly rankled a few teams with some theoretically iffy “divaâ€Â behavior, though Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach came roaring to Crabtree’s defense Saturday.

“I’ve seen Michael Crabtree run from the spotlight more than I’ve seen him chase the spotlight,â€Â Leach said, in between blasts at Browns Coach Eric Mangini, who reportedly soured on Crabtree during one brief visit.

Either way, it̢۪s no big deal, Singletary said. Diva or no diva, if Crabtree works hard and makes plays, Singletary will deal with the rest.

“Normally when you get great players, sometimes you get a little bit of attitude with them,â€Â Singletary said. “I think for us, on the offensive side of the ball, a little swagger is fine with me.â€Â

They got lucky. They needed Al Davis to get goofy again. They might be risking a little bit. But the 49ers put some instant swagger back into their offense on Saturday, and that is more than they could̢۪ve ever expected.

By Tim Kawakami / McClatchy Tribune