Marshawn Lynch rumors: Raiders want answer
By Conor Myles
When will Marshawn Lynch finally become an Oakland Raider? The team wants to know soon.
The Oakland Raiders and Marshawn Lynch are clearly a match made in Heaven. Both sides are in agreement on that as well and the mutual interest has been shown for quite some time.
The 2017 NFL Draft is less than a week away and the Raiders still haven’t agreed to terms with the star running back. The team needs a workhorse back to replace the departed Latavius Murray and this draft is filled with options at that position.
Although agreeing to terms with Lynch is still a priority for the Raiders, the team’s general manager announced today he’d like an a resolution to this matter before the draft.
Reggie McKenzie on knowing if Marshawn Lynch a Raider before draft: "At some point, you'd like to know. Prior to the draft is that point."
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) April 21, 2017
Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio does believe Lynch is committed to returning to the NFL with the team from his hometown.
Del Rio on meeting with Lynch: “Every indication he was excited to play for the Oakland #Raiders.”
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) April 21, 2017
Gehlken also mentioned that McKenzie did acknowledge even if Lynch isn’t a member of the Raiders before the draft it won’t stop the team adding him after it either.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport doesn’t believe this to be true and seems to think there’s still a possibility this agreement between Lynch and the Raiders doesn’t work out. Should Lynch not end up coming out of retirement, there would have to be a backup plan, likely in the draft. Oakland picks 24th in the first round and could consider a dynamic back, perhaps Dalvin Cook or Joe Mixon.
Next: 2017 NFL Mock Draft: Raiders take a cornerback early
Lynch to the Raiders is anything but a guarantee as many assumed it was. If the team doesn’t sign him before the draft, they might be forced to move on sooner rather than later.