Raiders Looking For Decision From Marshawn Lynch Before Draft

Update:

Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Raiders want to RB Marshawn Lynch around a third of the $9 million he’s set to make in 2017 as part of his contract, but Lynch is balking at accepting less than half.

In the end, Tafur expects there to be a lot of incentives, but there’s still room for both parties to move a bit on a potential deal.

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Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie was asked Friday about whether they would know if Marshawn Lynch will be a member of their team before the draft.

“At some point, you’d like to know,” McKenzie said, per Michael Gehlken. “Prior to the draft is that point.”

Raiders HC Jack Del Rio added that their meeting with Lynch was positive.

“Every indication he was excited to play for the Oakland Raiders,” Del Rio said, per Vic Tafur.

Gehlken mentions that McKenzie didn’t rule out the possibility of bringing in Lynch after the draft, but it would clearly be the team’s preference to know soon.

Ian Rapoport recently mentioned that it remains to be seen how things will play out between the Raiders and Lynch.

Last week, it appeared as though the two sides were nearing an agreement on a deal, and while they’re still trying to get things figured out, Rapoport mentions that next week’s draft could be the end of the team’s interest in bringing in Lynch.

“Right now, there’s no agreement between Marshawn Lynch and the Oakland Raiders, and the real deadline here — they hoped to have it done by yesterday when offseason conditioning started, didn’t happen — the real deadline here is the draft,” Rapoport said. “Because it is possible that the Raiders get on the clock Thursday night or Friday, and say ‘Alright, we’re going to take this running back. He has a value here for us. We’re just going to take the leap.’ And once they take a running back, it probably will close the door on Marshawn Lynch.”

Rapoport added that there are other priorities for the Raiders this offseason including new contracts for QB Derek Carr and G Gabe Jackson.

Reports surfaced last week that the Raiders had reached an agreement with Lynch, but that ultimately proved to not be the case. Several reporters and even Lynch, himself, refuted that there was a deal between the two parties.

Some have said that Lynch may have to agree to a lower deal than what the Vikings signed Latavius Murray to earlier in the offseason. There’s also the issue of compensation and whether the Raiders are willing to part with a draft pick for Lynch.

Lynch, 30, has two years remaining on his three-year, $31 million contract that included $12 million guaranteed. He stands to make base salaries of $9 million and $7 million over the final two years of the agreement.

In 2015, Lynch In 2015, Lynch appeared in seven games for the Seahawks and rushed for 417 yards on 111 carries (3.8 YPC) to go along with 13 receptions for 80 yards receiving and three total touchdowns.

We’ll have more regarding Lynch and the Raiders as the news is available.