The Oakland Raiders have a plethora of draft picks to use this week as a result of some blockbuster trades they made last season, and they may have to consider using one of them on a potential starting running back.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Marshawn Lynch, who is currently a free agent, is planning to retire.
After two seasons playing for his hometown Oakland Raiders, Marshawn Lynch is not planning to play football again, league sources tell ESPN.
Now, with the three-day draft kicking off Thursday night in Nashville, the Raiders have one more potential need to address: running back.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2019
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media added that Raiders head coach Jon Gruden had made it clear the team was not planning to re-sign Lynch. They intend to use an early draft pick at the position.
The #Raiders love Marshawn Lynch, but Jon Gruden had moved on and made it clear. They plan to take a RB early. Josh Jacobs in the 20s is a possible target for Oakland. https://t.co/TOPHFnQ9S8
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 24, 2019
Lynch grew up in Oakland, and he came out of retirement after a year off in 2016 because he wanted to play for the Raiders. He was still pretty effective in two seasons with the team, averaging more than 4.2 yards per carry and scoring 10 total touchdowns. However, he appeared in just six games last season.
Either plans have changed for the Raiders, or what Gruden said about Lynch earlier in the offseason was yet another lie from the head coach.
