Marshawn Lynch

Raiders reportedly have interest in luring Marshawn Lynch out of retirement

Published Mar. 17, 2017 3:59 p.m. ET

Dan Graf

The Oakland Raiders have a hole in their backfield that everyone is assuming is a perfect fit for free-agent running back Adrian Peterson, but the team apparently has something else in mind.

ESPN is reporting that the Raiders are strongly considering acquiring retired running back Marshawn Lynch from the Seattle Seahawks. Lynch, 30, retired after gaining a career-low 417 rushing yards in an injury-filled 2015 season, but the running back's rights still belong to the Seahawks.

Lynch may have missed the 2016 season, but he is 13 months younger than Peterson and lives in Oakland. Despite his early retirement, he has repeatedly asserted that he’s not interested in a comeback. Plus, he would have to either be released or traded by the Seahawks to play for his hometown team.

There’s no telling whether Lynch’s stance on retirement may change, but Oakland does need a replacement for Latavius Murray, who on Thursday signed with the Vikings. That left the longtime Viking Peterson still on the market and left the Raiders with an opening, but maybe it’s not so certain that he’s the only big-name running back Oakland might be interested in.

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