Report: Marshawn Lynch ‘really wants’ to play for the Raiders

According to Monday Morning Quarterback, Marshawn Lynch really wants to play for the Oakland Raiders.

The Oakland Raiders find themselves in desperate need of a running back after Latavius Murray left and signed with the Minnesota Vikings. That’s when the rumors of former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, an Oakland native, signing with and ending his retirement began.

While Lynch hinted at a return on Twitter, we haven’t heard anything more concrete until Peter King’s Monday Morning Quarterback column.

“He [Lynch] really wants to play for the Raiders,” the source said. “He also wants to do good things for his foundation in the area. This is a great chance to accomplish both things.”

King says the Lynch-to-Oakland story is “real” and he has reportedly asked for his release. NFL Network Ian Rappoport doubled down with a report of his own claiming the Lynch-to-Seattle deal “realer than it’s ever been” and that the Raiders are the only team Lynch is considering.

King also outlines two routes that Lynch can land with the Raiders, and the first is a voided contract via a release. The second is a trade involving a conditional draft pick in 2018, which would be tied to Lynch’s level of performance. This seems like a potential low-risk trade for the Raiders if they can get the Seahawks to pull the trigger under these conditions.

The other issue, as King brings up, is Lynch’s contract figure. On his existing deal he is owed $9 million.

Lynch is about to turn 31, putting him past the vaunted 30-year-old age that signals the wrong side of the curve in a running back’s career.

In 2015, Lynch rushed for 417 yards in seven games. Before that season, Lynch had four consecutive seasons of over 1,200 yards rushing.