Oakland Raiders: 5 offseason needs in 2019

OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 24: Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden yells during the regular season NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders on Monday, Dec. 24, 2018 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 30: Dorian O’Daniel #44 of the Kansas City Chiefs and Daniel Sorensen #49 of the Kansas City Chiefs tackle Jalen Richard #30 of the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /

1. Find a workhorse running back

In 2017, the Oakland Raiders were able to coax running back hard-charging running back Marshawn Lynch out of retirement. He had stepped away from the game after the 2015 season, but the Seattle Seahawks still owned his rights. He would be dealt to the Silver and Black and after shaking off some obvious rust, he played better football as the year wore on.

Last offseason, the Raiders added some depth behind Lynch with the free-agent signing of Doug Martin, a two-time Pro Bowler with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a first-round draft choice by that organization in 2012. The latter would wind up leading the team with 172 carries, 723 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Lynch was placed on injured reserve in late October but still finished second on the team with 376 rushing yards and three scores. All told, the Raiders finished 25th in the league in yards per game on the ground for the second consecutive year.

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Both Lynch and Martin are slated for free agency. So could the team invest either big money or a high draft choice on a versatile performer who can run, catch and block. For what it’s worth, the Pittsburgh Steelers won’t be placing any kind of tag on talented and well-rested running back Le’Veon Bell. Ir’s certainly a move to ponder.

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