Marshawn Lynch Meets With Raiders
Here we go. Running back Marshawn Lynch is at the Raiders’ practice facility today chatting with team officials, a source tells former NFL punter Pat McAfee, who is now with Barstool Sports. The news has been confirmed by Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
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The Seahawks still hold Lynch’s rights, but they OK’d his meeting with the Raiders (Twitter link). One source who spoke with Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) believes that Lynch will ultimately wind up in Oakland. Today’s meeting with Jack Del Rio represents the final hurdle for Lynch to make his way to the Raiders, Rapoport tweets. If JDR says yes, the dominoes should start to fall, leading Beast Mode to Oakland.
During their meeting, Lynch told the Raiders he intends to un-retire and play again, Rapoport tweets. However, Rapoport cautions that a “long process” must play out before Lynch can actually join the Raiders.
The Raiders and Lynch have been connected to each other for some time now. Returning to play for the Raiders would give Lynch the opportunity to hook on with a contender and finish out his career in his hometown. The Raiders, meanwhile, would add a seasoned power back to help offset the loss of Latavius Murray. The Seahawks frankly don’t have room for Lynch at this juncture with Eddie Lacy, Thomas Rawls, and C.J. Prosise on the roster.
Lynch spoke with Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll last month, but he reportedly did not ask to remove him from team’s reserve/retired list during that chat. Talk of a Lynch return has been swirling for a long time and agent Doug Hendrickson does not deny that the itch to play is still there for his client.
Photo via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.
Seahawks GM: Richard Sherman Trade Talk Is “Real”
The rumblings about a potential Richard Sherman deal have some validity, GM John Schneider said in an interview with 710 ESPN. While offering the usual caveats about always being willing to listen on any player, Schneider all but confirmed that the cornerback has been discussed with other teams. And, for the right price, Sherman could be moved. 
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“What you’ve seen lately in the news is real,” Schneider said. “That’s on both sides...it’s just open communication. He knows what’s going on. We know what’s going on. I don’t know if anything would ever happen, but like I tell people all the time, 98 percent of the deals that we’re involved with, we don’t follow through with. But at least we’ve opened that door, gone down the road and seen what’s behind Door A or Door B.”
When the trade talk started in March, Sherman was pretty much laughing it all off. Then, in comments last week, Sherman seemed to take a more serious tone, perhaps intimating that he knew he was made available. Coach Pete Carroll also acknowledged that the Seahawks have talked about Sherman with other teams, though he said he did not envision a trade coming together.
Nothing is imminent on this front, a source tells Jeff Howe of The Boston Herald (on Twitter), but it is a very real possibility closer to the draft. Reportedly, the Patriots are among the clubs that have inquired on the outspoken corner, but it could be a few weeks before Sherman’s future is sorted out.
Seahawks To Place Luke Joeckel At LT
As teams get set for the start of offseason workouts, they are assembling their pre-draft offensive line depth charts. One such team with some fluidity: the Seahawks. They plan to make a move that ended up backfiring on the Jaguars in stationing Luke Joeckel at left tackle. While Pete Carroll acknowledges Joeckel could end up at left guard, the recently added blocker will begin his Seahawks tenure as a left tackle.
Jacksonville shuttled Joeckel from left tackle to left guard before the 2016 season, but an injury limited him to only four games. The former No. 2 overall pick did not fare especially well at left tackle as a full-time starter from 2014-15; he began his Jags run as a right tackle while a rookie. The Seahawks signed Joeckel to a one-year deal for a fully guaranteed $7MM in an attempt to help what’s been a maligned offensive line over the past two seasons. Carroll plans, for now, to sit converted basketball player George Fant behind Joeckel. Fant started 10 games for the NFC West champions last season.
- The Seahawks’ most recent first-round pick, Germain Ifedi, is expected to receive a long look at right tackle, per Kapadia. Ifedi started 13 games at right guard last season, but a chain reaction might relocate him. Should Joeckel move to left guard, 2016 left guard starter Mark Glowinski would shift to the right side and possibly bump Ifedi to right tackle. Ifedi primarily played right tackle at tackle-rich Texas A&M but slid inside during his debut NFL season. Seattle, of course, is no stranger to moving its linemen. Former second-round pick Justin Britt shifted from tackle to guard to center during his first three seasons in the league.
Latest On Seahawks QB Trevone Boykin
Seahawks backup quarterback Trevone Boykin is facing misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession and public intoxication stemming from a weekend arrest, but it won’t cost him his roster spot. Not yet, anyway.
“Early indications are that we’ll give him an opportunity to be back with us,” head coach Pete Carroll told John Clayton of ESPN (via Michael Gehlken of Pro Football Talk). “We’ll see what happens though.”
That doesn’t come off as a strong endorsement of Boykin, who was already on probation for allegedly striking a police officer while with TCU in 2015. That incident cost Boykin a chance to play in the Alamo Bowl for TCU, which suspended him, and may have hurt his draft stock. Boykin ended up going unpicked before signing with Seattle. He ultimately earned a roster spot behind star Russell Wilson and appeared in six games as a rookie, completing 13 of 18 passes for 145 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
If the Seahawks were to look for another backup, it’s certainly worth noting that Colin Kaepernick remains unsigned, though they’re not inclined to spend much on a No. 2 QB. Nevertheless, Kaepernick thinks highly of Carroll, and the feeling seems to be mutual. Carroll told Tom Pelissero of USA Today earlier this week that a Kaepernick revival is “there to be had,” adding, “I hope the guy gets a chance to play.”
Jets Have Strong Interest In Mahomes
The Jets are showing strong interest in Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes, according to Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com. Mahomes also met with the 49ers on Thursday night and spent a good amount of time with the Giants, Pauline adds. Giants coach Ben McAdoo, 49ers GM John Lynch, and Seahawks GM John Schneider were all at Texas Tech’s pro day to watch Mahomes throw (Twitter link via Andrew Groover of the NFL Network). It should be noted that McAdoo doesn’t usually attend pro days, so this could be a sign that the Giants’ interest in Mahomes is also at an advanced level.
The stock of Mahomes has been on the rise for the last couple of months. In February, the NFL’s College Advisory Committee gave the quarterback a second-round grade. Meanwhile, with an overall underwhelming crop of quarterback’s in this year’s class, it’s not hard to see Mahomes going somewhere in his first round. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com previously estimated that his floor could be No. 25 overall when the Texans are scheduled to be on the clock. His ceiling, according to JLC, could be as high as top three overall.
The Jets signed Josh McCown this offseason and while he could be the team’s starter in 2017, they haven’t committed to anything of that nature just yet. Gang Green also has Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg on the roster, but it’s not likely that any of those QBs would preclude the Jets from drafting a high-end guy if they felt strongly about him.
The Jets own the No. 6 overall pick in this year’s draft and it seems possible that Mahomes might be a consideration there. It’s also possible that the Niners could beat them to the punch or another intensely-interested club could trade up to nab him. With roughly one month to go before the draft, it’s clear that Mahomes is a player to watch, but his possibly range is still murky.
Details On Terence Garvin's Contract
- Seahawks linebacker Terence Garvin‘s single-year accord is worth $855K, tweets Wilson. The agreement comes with a $60K signing bonus and a $20K first-game roster bonus.
Seahawks Rumors: Sherman, Carroll, Shead
Here’s the latest on Sherman and the Seahawks:
- When asked about the trade rumors surrounding him, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman seemed to take a different tone than he did just a few weeks ago. “I wouldn’t want to leave this city and my guys, but understand it’s a business and organizational philosophies change,” (Twitter link via Gee Scott of 710 ESPN). Previously, Sherman was laughing off the trade talk. Now, he seems to be making peace with the idea that he could be shipped elsewhere. Earlier this week, coach Pete Carroll acknowledged that the Seahawks have discussed a potential Sherman trade with other teams, but added that he doesn’t see it happening.
- On many levels, trading Sherman would be a monumental gamble for the Seahawks, Kapadia writes. The Seahawks are ready to compete for a Super Bowl right now and he’s a star player who has never missed a game in his NFL career. It’s also hard to see a deal coming together given his salary and the team’s likely asking price. Kapadia wonders aloud if the Seahawks’ public posturing could be a way to send a message to Sherman, letting him know that he is not untouchable. Of course, that could also backfire and create an ugly situation.
- Carroll would be “really surprised” if Seahawks cornerback DeShawn Shead made it back for Week 1 as he recovers from his knee injury, Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com tweets. Shead was non-tendered this offseason suffered an ACL and meniscus tear in the playoffs. However, the team later re-signed him to a one-year, $1.5MM deal with $1MM fully guaranteed at signing. Shead started 15 games for Seattle in 2016 and probably figures to be a big part of their gameplan for 2017. Unfortunately, it might take a while before they can get him back on the field.
Seahawks Notes: Lynch, Hauschka
- Running back Marshawn Lynch did not ask Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll to remove him from the reserve/retired list when the pair talked 10 days ago, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Lynch, of course, is reportedly considering a comeback but wants to play for the Raiders, not Seattle. Before any such move can take place, the Seahawks need to process Lynch off the retired list.
- Kicker Steven Hauschka “capped out three times higher” than what the Seahawks were willing to pay, Carroll told reporters, including Condotta (Twitter link). The Bills signed Hauschka to a three-year, $8.85MM deal that includes $4MM in full guarantees, while Seattle went with a far cheaper option. Blair Walsh is the Seahawks’ new kicker after inking a one-year pact worth just north of $1MM.
Patriots Inquired On Richard Sherman
Before signing free agent Stephon Gilmore earlier this month, the Patriots inquired on the availability Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Seattle head coach Pete Carroll admitted this morning the Seahawks had discussed Sherman in trade talks, but added a deal isn’t expected to take place.
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New England was clearly looking to add a clear-cut No. 1 cornerback to its secondary this offseason, and Sherman would have been just that. Sherman, 28, has two years left on a hefty four-year extension he signed in 2014, but because the Patriots would have only been responsible for Sherman’s base salary (and not his prorated signing bonus), Sherman would have been relatively affordable. His $11.431MM cap charge would have ranked just ninth among NFL corners in 2017.
For that price, Sherman would have represented a bargain, even though he’s coming off the worst season of his career, according to Pro Football Focus‘ grades. Given that he’s been one of the best corners in the league throughout his Seattle tenure, Sherman has set a high bar for his performance, so the “worst” campaign of his career amounts to finishing as the NFL’s No. 15 corner, per PFF. Sherman appeared in all 16 games for the fifth consecutive season, racking up four interceptions and 58 tackles while playing excellent run defense.
Trades involving stars of Sherman’s ilk don’t typically occur in the NFL, but the Patriots have shown a willingness to make deals this offseason. New England has already completed three deals this month, adding wide receiver Brandin Cooks, tight end Dwayne Allen, and defensive end Kony Ealy at the cost of draft pick compensation.
Seahawks Discussed Richard Sherman Trade
A couple of weeks ago, longtime NFL executive Michael Lombardi had everyone buzzing when he suggested the Seahawks could consider trading star cornerback Richard Sherman. It’s not clear if Lombardi had direct first-hand knowledge of the situation or if he was mixing his own opinion with league gossip, but it was enough to get people talking. 
Today, coach Pete Carroll acknowledged that teams have in fact called about trading for Sherman and the Seahawks have talked about it (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today). However, he added that he doesn’t see a deal going down.
Sherman signed a four year, $56MM contract extension with the Seahawks in May of 2014. There are two years to go on the contract and it’s a whopper of a deal, even for a player of his caliber. Sherman is set to carry a $13.6MM cap number this season and $13.2MM in 2018, putting him fourth amongst all cornerbacks in terms of average annual value. It has been said that the cornerback position is not necessarily at the heart of the Seahawks’ defensive scheme, so that money could be applied elsewhere while the team can also fill holes with draft picks received in a trade. Historically, blockbuster trades have been rare in the NFL, but the Patriots, Saints, Browns, and Texans all bucked the trend this offseason.
Sherman, who turns 29 on Thursday, has not missed a single regular season game since entering the league in 2011. The lifelong Seahawk had 58 total tackles and four interceptions last year while grading out as Pro Football Focus’ 13th best cornerback in the league.