Marshawn Lynch is still tied to a Seahawks-constructed deal that would pay him $9MM in 2017, and that’s causing some issues between the Raiders and their prospective high-profile running back.
The Raiders want Lynch to play for approximately a third of that this season, while Lynch is currently balking at taking less than half of that amount, Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. This is expected to be an incentive-heavy deal for the unretiring runner, according to Tafur, who notes (on Twitter) both sides could move a bit from their current stances.
Lynch, per Tafur, also wanted to get this deal done by his 31st birthday, which is Saturday.
The Raiders have more than $34MM in cap space but are currently negotiating with Derek Carr on what will surely be the biggest contract in franchise history. Possible extensions for Khalil Mack and Gabe Jackson reside on the Raiders’ itinerary after Carr, making money tighter than it has been in many years for this franchise.
Lynch has not played for less than $3MM in base salary since 2011. His bases from 2012-15 were $4MM, $7MM, $6MM and $4.5MM. However, the 2012 and ’15 seasons featured Lynch receiving $6MM and $7.5MM signing bonuses, respectively. The Raiders have also not paid a back $3MM in a season since Darren McFadden in 2014. The 2015 signing of Roy Helu netted the Silver and Black next to nothing, and the Raiders went with rookie-deal players last season in Latavius Murray, DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard.
Earlier today, GM Reggie McKenzie said the draft stands as the deadline for the Raiders to add Lynch. The Raiders currently house Washington, Richard and running back-turned-cornerback-turned-running back Taiwan Jones as incumbent backs. Jamize Olawale profiles as the short-yardage back as of now, but another ball-carrier is expected to be added — either in Lynch or a rookie — to help with traditional between-the-tackles work.
Tafur adds at that a trade with the Seahawks is expected to be a formality once the Raiders and Lynch work out a contract. The Bay Area native visited the Raiders more than two weeks ago.
“I think every indication I got is he was excited to play for the Oakland Raiders,” Jack Del Rio said today, via Tafur.