The Raiders are strongly considering luring retired star running back Marshawn Lynch out of retirement and back home to Oakland, ESPN reported Friday morning.
The Raiders are strongly considering luring retired star running back Marshawn Lynch out of retirement and back home to Oakland, ESPN reported Friday morning.
Lynch, who is still under contract with the Seahawks, is said to be trying to decide if he wants to come back to the NFL. If he were to come back, there appears to be mutual interest between Lynch and the Raiders.
Lynch retired after the 2015 season with 9,112 yards in 10 NFL seasons, but there is a chance “Beast Mode” could fill the gap in the Raiders’ running attack caused by Latavius Murray’s departure.
“It could really happen,” a source told ESPN’s Adam Shefter and Josina Anderson.
Lynch, who began his star-studded football career at Oakland Tech High and Cal before making a name for himself with the Seahawks, is in shape and has indicated in the past he’d love to play for his hometown Raiders.
Former lineman Jeff Saturday said on NFL Live that it makes a lot of sense for Lynch to land in Oakland.
“When he left, he had back issues, he had hernia issues, but when he puts it on in between the tackles, he’s still as nasty as anybody out there,” Saturday said. “He plays great, physical football and you’re talking about the Raiders, with a great offensive line, a great quarterback, they just signed Jared Cook so the middle of the field is going to be taken care of. He fits. Why would you want to leave Seattle? Because their line turned to trash.”
The Bay Area News Group first speculated on the possibility of Lynch playing for the Raiders after team announcer Greg Papa teased listeners on 95.7 The Game on Thursday.
While Lynch is retired, his rights are still owned by the Seahawks, who would have to either agree to trade him to the Raiders or release him with the idea he’d sign with Oakland. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport indicated the Seahawks may not stand in Lynch’s way if he wanted to play for his hometown Raiders, pointing out Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie and Seahawks GM John Schneider have a longstanding relationship.
The Raiders lost Murray, their leading rusher from the last two seasons, on Wednesday night when he signed with the Vikings.