Seahawks trade Marshawn Lynch to Raiders, teams swap 2018 picks

Apr 26, 2017, 6:25 AM | Updated: 1:31 pm

.@MoneyLynch has arrived. pic.twitter.com/z8i6ij2LCu
— OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) April 26, 2017

Digital Content Producer

It’s official: Marshawn Lynch is a Raider.

The Seahawks traded their previously retired running back to Oakland on Wednesday, completing a deal that includes a swap of late-round picks in next year’s draft. Seattle gets the Raiders’ 2018 fifth-round pick in exchange for Lynch and the Seahawks’ 2018 sixth-rounder.

Both teams announced the trade, which had been in the works for several weeks but hinged on Lynch agreeing to a contract with Oakland first.

Lynch tweeted out a message in which he expressed gratitude toward Seahawks fans. The Raiders posted a video to Twitter (embedded above) showing Lynch happily greeting general manager Reggie McKenzie and coach Jack Del Rio and then leaving the facility wearing his new Raiders helmet.

There are conflicting reports about the length of Lynch’s new deal. The NFL Network reports that it’s for one year and that it would pay him a $3 million base salary, with a chance to make $2 million more if he gains 1,000 yards, with a maximum value of $8.5 million. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Lynch would sign a two-year deal.

Under the terms of his previous contract with the Seahawks, Lynch was scheduled to make $9 million in base salary in 2017.

710 ESPN Seattle’s John Clayton said Tuesday that Adrian Peterson set the running back market with his agreement with the Saints.

Lynch, who turned 31 last weekend, retired after the 2015 season. The Seahawks still controlled his rights because he was under contract for two more seasons. There were rumors all offseason of Lynch’s desire to return to the NFL with the Raiders, his hometown team, which will be moving to Las Vegas sometime after the 2018 season.

The Seahawks and Raiders will again close out the preseason against each other this year. The game will be in Oakland. Lynch, though, may only be a spectator as he hardly played in the preseason while he was with Seattle.

Lynch’s former Seahawks teammate and current Raiders outside linebacker Bruce Irvin tweeted his excitement about the news Wednesday.