In 2014, the Oakland Raiders opted to sign both Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew to anchor the run game hoping that both players could resurrect their careers on short-term contracts. That experiment failed miserably and now the Raiders are looking to retool the run game in order to help Derek Carr keep the offense balanced in 2015. While the draft could be used for wide receivers, will the Raiders make a big move in free agency for a running back?
According to Fansided.com and the Sacramento Bee, the Raiders could be players in a deal for Marshawn Lynch. The Seattle Seahawks running back is not expected to return in 2015 given his age, injury problems and issues with the media. While Lynch is one of the more dominating running backs in the league, the Seahawks could be aiming to get younger in their rotation while getting rid of some of the locker room headaches. The Oakland Raiders could be the ideal landing spot.
Oakland has a younger back making some noise. Latavius Murray had break-out moments in 2014 and the Raiders think he could be something special in the years to come. However, he might not be able to handle the entire job by himself which is where Lynch comes in. The Raiders rank last in both rushing attempts and rushing yards with 337 and 1,240, but if Carr is going to be successful, those numbers must improve and Lynch can help do it.
If the Raiders are not able to get the Seattle Seahawks star, there are other options in free agency or potentially a trade for Oakland. DeMarco Murray could be an option as the Dallas Cowboys have yet to begin contract talks with the running back who broke plenty of records this year. Murray is likely to command a bigger contract given his stats this season which Oakland might not give in to. The running back market is weak as the best backs might only be able to command a two-year deal at best. Having Murray on the roster means the team is not going to write a huge check for whichever other player comes in.
Mark Ingram could be an affordable option. He is coming off a career-high year with the New Orleans Saints, but does not have the resume to command a lot of money. He is a solid down-field runner that can be a difference in the passing game as well for Oakland. If the Raiders want to go big, a trade for Adrian Peterson could be the best option. However, his NFL future will not be determined until April and the Raiders might have finalized several roster moves by then.