With starting running back from last season Latavius Murray leaving for the Minnesota Vikings in free agency, the Oakland Raiders could be in the market for a new running back.
The front office has a lot of confidence in rookie running backs from last year Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington, but whether either of them is ready to take over as the every down back is currently unknown, so the team could look to sign a short term solution.
One option that they may be considering is former Viking running back Adrian Peterson, who has expressed interest in possibly coming to Oakland.
If Peterson does not work out, there is another option that the Raiders may consider, but it may come as a bit of a surprise, via Adam Schefter of ESPN:
Raiders strongly considering acquiring RB Marshawn Lynch, either through trade or by his release, sources tell @JosinaAnderson and me.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2017
The Raiders may have interest in the former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, but that would require him to come out of retirement, which according to Schefter could be a possibility:
“It could really happen,” one source familiar with the situation said Friday.
Lynch retired after the 2015 season, but still technically has two years remaining on his contract with the Seahawks, so if the Raiders want to acquire him it would either have to be via trade, or a release by the Seahawks.
The 30-year-old is a native of Oakland, and was a first round draft pick in 2007 by the Buffalo Bills out of Cal. In nine NFL seasons he rushed for 9,112 yards and 74 touchdowns while being named to five Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team.
His real success came after going to Seattle, where he rushed at least 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns in four consecutive seasons.
Lynch dealt with some injuries in his final season in 2015, which led to him calling it quits to his professional career. But after a year off Lynch is back to being healthy and may want to give it one more run in the NFL with his hometown Raiders.
