Lynch, Oakland still talking
Marshawn Lynch visited the Raiders’ facility nine days ago and though many close to the situation expect the retired running back to play for Oakland next season, there are still a couple of hurdles that need to be cleared.
The first is that Lynch’s agents must work out a contract adjustment with the Raiders. The Oakland native signed a three-year deal with Seattle in 2015 that would pay him $9 million in 2017 if he came out of retirement. That’s too pricey for the Raiders, league sources said.
The Seahawks have given Lynch’s agents permission to talk with the Raiders. If they reach an agreement on the contract, then the two teams can start trade talks, sources said.
Seattle has no interest in keeping Lynch if he un-retires and would be fine simply releasing him, but would ask Lynch to pay back $2.5 million of his signing bonus from last year, which he sat out with injuries. Lynch would rather not do that.
The 5-foot-11, 215-pound Cal alum, who turns 31 next week, wants to play for his hometown team and the Raiders need a big running back to replace 6-3, 225-pound Latavius Murray, who signed with the Vikings. Oakland is high on 5-8 second-year backs Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington, but plans to add a pile mover.
Lynch would have to file for reinstatement from the NFL once a contract is finalized, and that could happen after the Raiders trade for his rights. The new deal likely would be heavy on incentives.
Last week, Seahawks general manager John Schneider told 710 ESPN Seattle that talks between Seattle and Oakland would “go in a smooth manner” because of his close relationship with Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie. The two worked together for many years with the Packers.
Meanwhile, ESPN reported that Lynch has talked to good friend and Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman about playing together next season, and Seattle is actively shopping the Stanford alum. The Seahawks’ reported asking price for Sherman, though, is a first- and a third-round pick, and McKenzie has told The Chronicle in the past he doesn’t want to trade any picks he has in the first three rounds.
Lynch, a five-time Pro Bowler, has not played since a Jan. 17, 2016, playoff loss to Carolina in which he gained only 20 yards on six carries.
In nine NFL seasons, Lynch rushed for 9,112 yards and 74 touchdowns. But in 2015, he was limited to seven regular-season games and 417 yards and the postseason loss to the Panthers, largely because of an abdominal injury that required surgery. Location, location: The Raiders will play in Oakland next season — and more than likely in 2018, too. But where they will set up shop in 2019 is uncertain. A stadium being constructed for them in Las Vegas is not expected to be ready until the 2020 season.