Former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch has apparently told the Oakland Raiders he wants to play for them this season, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
Rapoport reported that Lynch has informed the Raiders of his intention to come out of retirement and play for them this season.
Lynch currently remains on the reserve/retired list and is still the property of the Seahawks. In order for Lynch to return to the league and play for the Raiders, a number of steps would need to take place. Lynch would need to request reinstatement from the NFL. Once approved, he would take his place on Seattle's roster with $9 million in salary counting against Seattle's salary cap.
The Seahawks currently have $9,836,983 in salary cap space according to NFL Players' Association figures. They could barely fit Lynch under the cap and carry him on their roster until a deal could be reached with the Raiders. The incentive for a deal would be there for both sides as Seattle cannot carry that contract this season. It would also preclude them from making any additional additions to the roster, or being able to sign their upcoming draft class, until Lynch is off the roster once again.
Seahawks general manager John Schneider and Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie have a strong relationship dating back to their time together with the Green Bay Packers. A plan for Lynch would likely come together relatively quickly.
Seattle reportedly gave Lynch permission to meet with the Raiders, which they had to do seeing tha tLynch is still currently their asset. If a trade deal cannot be reached, the Seahawks would likely release Lynch to allow him the ability to return to his hometown of Oakland to play.
Head coach Pete Carroll said at the league's owners' meetings last week that he had recently spoken to Lynch but that he had not asked the Seahawks for his reinstatement at that point in time. That will officially be the first domino to fall for Lynch's return to the NFL when it occurs.
Photo Credit: SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 02: Running back Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Seattle Seahawks runs with the ball during the third quarter of the game against the Oakland Raiders at CenturyLink Field on November 2, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/