Jason Decrow / AP

Michael Crabtree holds up a 49ers jersey. Crabtree, a two-time Biletnikoff Award winner as college football's best receiver, was the No. 10 overall selection in the 2009 NFL draft.

updated 4:37 p.m. ET April 26, 2009

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - When receiver Michael Crabtree unexpectedly slipped to the 10th pick in Saturday’s NFL draft, the San Francisco 49ers eagerly grabbed their highest-profile pass-catcher since Terrell Owens left town.

Crabtree claimed he was delighted to join the 49ers after his record-setting career at Texas Tech, where he won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best college receiver after each of his two seasons.

“My whole thing was patience,” Crabtree said. “I was just trying to be patient. I like the 49ers. I grew up watching the 49ers and Cowboys. It’s a great history behind the 49ers. A lot of people have played there. I have big shoes to fill.”

Crabtree was one of the college game’s most dynamic playmakers in recent years, catching 231 passes for 3,127 yards and 41 touchdowns with the Red Raiders, and was widely expected to be the first receiver selected.

But he might have slipped in several teams’ estimation when a stress fracture was discovered in his left foot at the combine, forcing him to undergo surgery that scuttled much of his pre-draft workout schedule.

Crabtree is on schedule in his recovery, ditching his protective boot nearly three weeks ago. Still, nine teams passed on him — including the nearby Oakland Raiders, who went with Maryland receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey with the seventh pick.

Special feature NFL draft busts — by school We put the spotlight on the big-time college football programs and the guys who stunk it up in the NFL. NBCSports.com

“We had no idea he would be there at 10,” coach Mike Singletary said. “It was one of the last scenarios we had in mind.”

Crabtree clearly is the biggest addition to the 49ers’ receiving corps since Owens left after the 2003 season. San Francisco has had some of the NFL’s least impressive groups of pass-catchers since then, struggling through five years with few solid receivers for quarterbacks Alex Smith and Shaun Hill.

Their targets should be a whole lot more impressive next year. Isaac Bruce will be back for another season alongside Arnaz Battle, returning youngsters Josh Morgan and Jason Hill, and free-agent signee Brandon Jones.

Singletary doesn’t yet know where Crabtree will play. He’s not expected to participate fully in next weekend’s minicamp while continuing his injury recovery, but should be ready for training camp.

“We’ll figure it out,” Singletary said. “You’ve got a playmaker. He’s going to have to earn his way on, but the most important thing is that we know we have a playmaker.”

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