Raiders rumors: Marshawn Lynch draws Oakland’s interest
By Matt Conner
The Oakland Raiders are reportedly interested in bringing in Marshawn Lynch to be their featured running back.
The Oakland Raiders are considering a very interesting move to fill their running back slot, by making a move for Marshawn Lynch of the Seattle Seahawks, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Raiders strongly considering acquiring RB Marshawn Lynch, either through trade or by his release, sources tell @JosinaAnderson and me.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2017
Marshawn Lynch is in shape. He's thought about playing. Raiders are interested. But would the #Seahawks actually trade him? We'll see.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2017
Lynch reportedly retired via Twitter back in February by posting a picture of cleats hanging from a wire. After nine seasons in the NFL, it was assumed that Lynch was finished. His former team has been bringing in multiple veteran backs for visits assuming that Lynch was done, including Jamaal Charles, Adrian Peterson and Latavius Murray, the Raiders starter from last year. In the end they decided on former Green Bay Packers back Eddie Lacy.
Lynch made only 7 starts in 8 games in 2015, the last time he played in the NFL, and ran for only 3.8 yards per carry. He rushed 111 times for 417 yards and 3 touchdowns. The previous two seasons, however, Lynch led the NFL in rushing touchdowns with a total of 25 over the course of the two years. In 2014, Lynch rushed 280 times for 1,306 yards, a healthy 4.7 yards/carry average. Yet for those who would question his playing ability.
Marshawn Lynch had 245 players miss tackles on his carries the last 4 years. That's the most, it's not close, and he didn't play last year pic.twitter.com/Neur9ejIao
— Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke) March 17, 2017
It’s interesting that the Raiders would want to go this route with a veteran who hasn’t played in so long when the market is flooded this offseason, both with affordable veteran running backs as well as a loaded draft class. From featured runners like Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook and Christian McCaffrey up top to the aforementioned AP and Charles, there are plenty of options for a team on the hunt for a running back. That said, maybe Reggie McKenzie is onto something by resurrecting Lynch’s career, if he’s interested.