The Seattle Seahawks are headed to the playoffs once again, but in 2015 the team may look at a trade or release of Marshawn Lynch, as the running back is due a decent cap hit and if he parts ways with the Hawks, teams like the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens or Minnesota Vikings could be interested in acquiring him.
Lynch has been very valuable to the Seahawks during his time in Seattle, but that time could be running out due to a number of different things coming into play. Lynch is set to be a decent cap hit next season for the Seahawks on the payroll and while the salary cap is expected to go up next year, the team has a number of players they still have to sign down the road, including Russell Wilson. According to ESPN.com, reporter Chris Mortensen wrote earlier in the season that the Seahawks had grown "tired" of Lynch and some of his off the field antics and would look for a split down the line.
The ESPN article details some of the issues, including Lynch not showing up for the White House photo after the Super Bowl win, as well as his training camp holdout and issues surrounding the Percy Harvin trade. Lynch also has issues with the media and while that is more about access and quotes, it still is something the team has to deal with. Lynch will be worth over $6 million on the cap next season and that is one reason why he held out in the first place.
Lynch and the team agreed on a raise for this season and nothing beyond that, as both sides realized that the money up front will come before the two sides potentially split, which was how Peter King put it in the MMQB. The Seahawks ranked first in rushing yards per game this season and if Lynch is cut, there will be a ton of teams in line for his services. The Raiders, 49ers, Vikings, Dolphins and Browns all could be looking for a boost at RB in 2015.
Lynch has been extremely productive during his time with the Seahawks, rushing for at least 1200 yards in each season, but sometimes production isn't always the number one thing. Football is a business and if the team lets go of Lynch, it will be a business move. Lynch rushed for 1306 yards this season and 13 touchdowns, giving him his most yards since two years ago when he had 1590 yards. Lynch has scored at least 10 touchdowns in each of the past four seasons and he has not averaged less than 4.0 yards in that time.
Lynch is a durable back as well and has only missed one game in his tenure with the Seahawks. All of that adds up to a player that should be staying, but with his age getting up there and his contract, it could be time to split. The Seahawks have done a good job drafting Robert Turbin and Christine Michael over the past couple years and they have shown they can step up, although they are not at the level that Lynch is.
