Marshawn Lynch not expected to return next year
Seattle Seahawks star running back Marshawn Lynch is known for going against the grain, and we certainly saw that during Super Bowl Media Days earlier this year, as Lynch declined to speak with reporters before being forced to. There’s no doubt that Lynch is one of the best players in the game and is the identity of the Seahawks offense right now, but the team is starting to grow tired of Lynch’s antiques and lack of communication. Percy Harvin was traded for not producing and for failing to work well with teammates, though he’s clearly a much bigger headcase than Lynch.
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ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports that the Seahawks are so sick of Lynch’s antics that they are going to part ways with him in the offseason, and this is a massive bombshell, as they will be parting ways with the focal point of their offense. Lynch’s holdout drew plenty of headlines this offseason, but I’m sure this isn’t the only reason for the Seahawks willingness to give him the axe. Of course, things can change between now and the offseason, but I also wonder if Lynch’s apparent reaction to the Harvin trade had to do with this move.
Lynch is one of the league’s elite running backs, so he won’t have any issues finding work in the offseason, especially if he can play at a high level for the rest of the year. He’ll decline with age, but he still has a few good years left in him. As for the Seahawks, they are expected to draft one of the top running backs, and they could spend a first-round pick on one; Todd Gurley makes plenty of sense as Lynch’s replacement, because you can also build him in as as focal point in a smashmouth offense.
Mort’s report jibes with what we’ve heard from other reliable insiders like Ian Rapoport, so the expectation is indeed for the Seahawks to let Lynch find another team to deal with his antics. That said, I’m sure plenty of teams will feel that he’s more than worth that price.