Marshawn Lynch retired from the NFL following the 2015 season and, frankly, it was a strange world without him on the field in 2016. However, that absence will apparently be short lived, as ESPN's Adam Schefter brings word that the long anticipated trade between the Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders has come to fruition.
Because the Seahawks held his rights, this was the first step that had to be completed in order for Lynch to officially sign in Oakland. Once that deal was done, it paved the way for what Schefter reports will be a two-year contract for the Raiders.
After an encouraging 2016 season, expectations are sky high for the Raiders but the team boasted a very unsettled running back situation prior to this move. Taiwan Jones, DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard were on board before the acquisition of Lynch and, even with the draft coming up, this is a spot in which adding a former Pro Bowl running back makes a ton of sense.
It remains to be seen as to just how much gas is left in the tank for Lynch, who is now 31 years old. However, his skills are certainly worth exploring and it will just be nice to have him back in the NFL. Stay tuned.
