It’s news that’s been brewing for about week now in the background of our NFL Draft preparation and free agency, but the threat of Marshawn Lynch Beat Mode-ing out of retirement now appears to be real. If the Oakland Raiders can work a deal with the Seattle Seahawks, who still own Lynch’s football rights, he’ll return to the NFL.
Retired player Marshawn Lynch is, in fact, in the #Raiders building today… as @PatMcAfeeShow noted. Short trip from his Oakland home.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 5, 2017
For the Seahawks, it’s a major win. Lynch only wants to come back if he can play for the Raiders, his hometown (for now) team. As a retired player, Lynch was offering Seattle nothing except a prorated signing bonus drain on their salary cap. They’ll get some kind of draft pick compensation from the Raiders, probably a fifth rounder, and have a little extra cap space to work with after shedding his prorated bonus from 2015.
But what are the Raiders getting out of the (potential) deal? Lynch is 30 years old, which isn’t too old for a star running back, but he’s been out of the league for a year. His last season was injury-riddled and he only played in seven games. gaining a career-low 417 yards. It’s a safe bet that he’s healthier, but what kind of shape is Lynch in? There’s a whole lot of space between being in shape and being in football shape. A lot of Twinkies and Big Macs can be consumed in a year. And if Lynch isn’t in football shape, can he get there by the start of the season? He turns 31 later this month and that’s going to be a hell of a lot harder to do than when he was 25.
Despite missing the entire 2016 season, Marshawn Lynch leads the NFL in rushing touchdowns (51) since 2011 (his 1st season in Seattle)
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) April 5, 2017
A straight up trade to Oakland will put a $9 million cap number on Lynch for Oakland and they surely don’t want that. Any trade will probably be conditional on a new contract. Probably something in the $5 million per year range. All the guaranteed money in the contract will have to come early too because if the Raiders get 2015 Marshawn Lynch, aka Least Mode, they won’t want to invest more than a year in him. If they get 2014 Lynch, who led the league with 13 touchdowns and rushed for 1,306 yards it’s a bargain. Lynch is an odd dude and if anyone can come back from a year on the couch it’s him.
Are the Seahawks shopping Richard Sherman?
In the midst of all this Marshawn Lynch talk, the Seahawks have been not-so-quietly shopping Richard Sherman as trade bait.
Seattle general manager John Schneider, not the former Duke Boy, admitted as much to a local sports radio station Wednesday.
“I think we’re a very unique organization in that regard,” Schneider said. “We have a great relationship with a lot of our players. There’s very much an openness. What you’ve seen lately in the news is real. That’s on both sides. It’s just open communication. He (Sherman) knows what’s going on. We know what’s going on. I don’t know if anything would ever happen, but like I tell people all the time, 98 percent of the deals that we’re involved with, we don’t follow through with. But at least we’ve opened that door, gone down the road and seen what’s behind Door A or Door B.”
Richard Sherman has allowed 12 career TDs. Patrick Peterson, from the same draft, has allowed 29. I wouldn't be trading Sherman anywhere
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) April 5, 2017
For his part, Sherman doesn’t seem to be taking it personally.
“Very little chance it happens, but both sides are listening,” Sherman told Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer in a text message. “I honestly don’t have much more to say about it than what I’ve already said. We have a great relationship. … There is a lot of love and respect. There is no bad blood.”
Sherman just turned 29 and probably has a good three or four more quality corner years in him. The Seahawks can’t afford to keep him when his contract is up in 2018. But before that happens the Seahawks have to pay Sherman over $13 million for the next two seasons.
"The news is real."
Seahawks GM confirms Richard Sherman trade talk: https://t.co/7A3YbEAidd pic.twitter.com/8yxW0PATRs
— NFL (@NFL) April 5, 2017
Now, there’s no question that Sherman is worth that. While he’s not the best cornerback in the league, he’s in the Top Five, and considering the franchise tags for corners this year is $16.742 million, his contract is practically a bargain. Sherman doesn’t feel a trade is that likely, but if I’m a team like the Jaguars with money to burn, I’m on the phone right now. Hell, the Indianapolis Colts and Raiders are both sitting with over $31 million in available cap space.
What will it take to land Sherman? He’s absolutely worth a first round pick plus extra picks, which is probably why Seattle is shopping and also probably why Sherman feels pretty safe that he’s staying.
Next year, in the final year of his current contract, that could all change. Not just because the Seahawks would like to get some kind of recompense for Sherman’s services, but because legit playoff teams like the Raiders, Colts and Patriots will have monstrous cap room to add a big Sherman contract. The Detroit Lions are looking at $96.2 million in available cap room.
Sherman is probably right that he’ll be playing in Seattle this season. Next year, he could very well be with Lynch in Oakland.
Other NFL News
Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Ego Ferguson failed his physical with the Green Bay Packers and will not join the team after all. Ferguson didn’t play a down last season and played in only four games in 2015, recording three tackles.
The New Orleans Saints cut backup quarterback Luke McCown Wednesday. McCown has carried a clipboard for Drew Brees since 2013. In 2015 McCown recorded only his 10th NFL start, a 27-22 loss to the Super Bowl-bound Carolina Panthers. McCown is 2-8 as a starter in the NFL after being drafted in the fourth round by the Cleveland Browns in 2004.
The Los Angeles Rams may have solved their center problem Wednesday when they signed former Washington Redskins back up John Sullivan to a free agent contract. Sullivan played in 13 games for the Redskins last season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers added former Jacksonville Jaguars first round pick Tyson Alualu to their defensive front with a two-year deal. Alualu started 10 games for the Jags last season and recorded 36 tackles, 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble.
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