Marshawn Lynch coming back to run with Raiders
ALAMEDA, Calif. — Marshawn Lynch is coming out of retirement after agreeing on a two-year deal with the Raiders that paved the way for a trade to his hometown NFL team in Oakland.
The 31-year-old running back passed a physical Wednesday and agreed to a restructured two-year contract. Those were the final steps needed before Seattle could trade his rights along with a 2018 sixth-round pick to the Raiders for a 2018 fifth-rounder.
NFL Network said Lynch would receive a $3 million base salary this season, with a chance to make an additional $2 million if he rushes for at least 1,000 yards. He had been slated to make $9 million this season if he came out of retirement, but with Seattle unwilling to pay that amount and Lynch only wanting to play for the Raiders, finalizing a trade was simple once Oakland was able to renegotiate Lynch’s contract.
Lynch, who retired after the
2015 season, also must apply to the NFL for reinstatement from the retired list before he can play for the Raiders.
Oakland has a need for a power running back after losing Latavius Murray in free agency. Second-year backs Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington are smaller and not as suited for short-yardage and goal-line situations. In Lynch’s final season, he was listed at 5-foot-11, 215 pounds.
“Marshawn is one of the best running backs I’ve ever played against in my short career so far,” Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack said last week. “It would be a great, great, great treat to have him on this side, on the dark side.”
Lynch was perhaps the best power back in the league before he retired, compiling double-digit touchdown run totals every season from 2011 to 2014. His 51 scores on the ground during that span are the most by an NFL player since 2011 despite Lynch playing just seven games in 2015 and being retired last season.
Buffalo picked Lynch 12th overall out of Cal in the 2007 draft, and he spent his first three seasons with the Bills before being traded to Seattle during the 2010 season. He has career rushing totals of 9,112 yards and 74 touchdowns, as well as 252 catches for 1,979 yards and nine touchdowns.