Marshawn Lynch is currently an unrestricted free agent, but the window is still open for him to return to the Oakland Raiders for another season.
Prior to the 2017 NFL season, the Oakland Raiders were able to get hometown hero Marshawn Lynch to come out retirement to be their feature back. Lynch has shown flashes of brilliance during his short stint with the team, but his contract is currently up, and he will be 33-years old next season.
There is still no word as to whether or not Lynch will be back in the fold next season, as the Raiders have a ton of question marks at the running back position. Not only is Lynch a free agent, but so is his backup, Doug Martin, as well as third-year back Jalen Richard.
Martin stepped in for Lynch when Beast Mode headed to the IR this season, ending his season after Week 6. Lynch looked fantastic prior to the injury, and with a shortened year, you can never rule out the possibility that No. 24 will be behind Derek Carr next season.
Appearing on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, Lynch spoke about playing next season, but did not give a true yes, or no answer.
“If it works out that way, then I will,” he said.
Of course, Lynch is from Oakland, so he cannot be happy with the situation going on with the Coliseum, and the uncertainty of where the team will play next season. If the team does strike a deal to return to the Coliseum, it could go a long way in bringing Lynch back for a third season in the Silver and Black.
The Raiders won only four games this past season, so Lynch is just one of a ton of decisions they will have to make this offseason. Oakland has 33 players entering free agency, but they do have a ton of cap space, and six of the first 100 picks in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Could Beast Mode be back in 2019? Only time will tell.