The Oakland Raiders announced on Thursday that they have signed former New York Jets running back Isaiah Crowell to a one-year contract worth a reported $2.5 million.
The Raiders have been busy this offseason looking to get back in the postseason picture for the 2019 season, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. The team added three new weapons for Derek Carr in wide receivers Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams and J.J. Nelson.
With Marshawn Lynch still undecided on retirement and it looking like he is not going to return to the Raiders, they were in search of a primary running back to replace him in 2019.
It was looking like the Raiders would spend one of their three first-round draft picks on a running back, but they have instead found a solution on the free agent market after meeting with Crowell on Thursday.
Crowell played in 13 games for the Jets last year, carrying the ball 143 times for 685 yards and six touchdowns while adding 21 receptions for 152 yards. In his five-year NFL career, Crowell had averaged 4.3 yards per carry.
As it currently stands, he will likely handle first and second down for the Raiders with Jalen Richard handling third-down duties as was the case with Lynch and Richard last season.
Bringing in a running back through the draft cannot fully be ruled out, although it will now likely be in one of the later rounds.
