With offseason training activities underway, teams are taking the opportunity to get new players and acquisitions acclimated to their systems. Despite being limited to instruction and drills, there is still plenty to be gained from attending the workouts.
The Oakland Raiders should be particularly interested in how Marshawn Lynch performs in his offseason workouts. The running back was acquired from the Seattle Seahawks after he announced he would be coming out of retirement, with rumors that he preferred to play in Oakland. According to Albert Breer of MMQB, Lynch was set on returning when he found out about the team’s move:
Raiders RB Marshawn Lynch asked when he decided he wanted to return to the NFL: "When I found out they was leaving," referencing the move.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) June 6, 2017
The Raiders are scheduled to play in Oakland for at least two more seasons before they move to Las Vegas, giving Lynch time to suit up and play in his hometown. The Oakland native said in his press conference that he wanted to give kids in the city a chance to see someone from their town play for the Raiders before they were gone.
There were also on-field advantages for Lynch to return to the Raiders, as the team had a hole at the running back position after Latavius Murray bolted for the Minnesota Vikings in free agency. Now back in the Bay Area, Lynch will have the opportunity to don the uniform of the team he grew up rooting for.
