Marshawn Lynch Would Bring Value to Raiders, Shorten Odds in 2017-2018
The Oakland Raiders are in the process of negotiating to sign Marshawn Lynch, who has decided he intends to seek reinstatement to the NFL if he can play in Oakland, league sources told ESPN's Ed Werder.
The Seattle Seahawks still hold Lynch's contractual rights, but they allowed him to visit the Raiders last week. The Raiders can trade with the Seahawks for Lynch's rights before he's formally reinstated, a source told Werder.
Lynch will turn 31 on April 22. He has rushed for 9,112 yards and 74 touchdowns in 9 NFL seasons, though injury limited him to seven games in 2015, when he averaged 3.8 yards per carry. He last played on Jan. 17, 2016, in a postseason loss to the Carolina Panthers.
The Raiders had the 10th shortest odds of winning Super Bowl 52 at 20-1 and that number could come down further with a Lynch signing.
ESPN.com noted that the Raiders are in need of a big lead back following the departure of Latavius Murray to the Minnesota Vikings in free agency.
- Ean Lamb, Gambling911.com
