Report: Marshawn Lynch starting process for NFL return, could reunite with Richard Sherman

Retired running back Marshawn Lynch has started the process of returning to the NFL and the Seahawks are expected to work out a trade with the Raiders if Lynch agrees to rework his contract, according to separate reports Thursday.

ESPN’s Ed Werder tweeted that Lynch has begun the NFL reinstatement process and that he’s “hoping to play for the Raiders or could team with Richard Sherman” if the cornerback is traded. The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted hours later that the Seahawks and Raiders are expected to work out a trade that would send Lynch to his hometown of Oakland, but that the deal is contingent on a reworked contract.

Per @NFL rules, if retired RB Marshawn Lynch is traded, he does not have to file a letter un-retiring. It would be a clean return to play.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 13, 2017

Marshawn Lynch had permission from SEA to talk to #Raiders. His agents have permission to rework his deal. IF it happens, then trade talks

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 13, 2017

Meanwhile, Werder mentioned the Patriots, Raiders and Packers as teams in need of both a running back and cornerback but added: “Whether anyone trades for Richard Sherman remains to be seen.”

Lynch retired from the NFL following the 2015 season and has two years left on his contract with the Seahawks. 710 ESPN Seattle’s John Clayton explained last month the somewhat complicated web Lynch would need to navigate to return. Clayton wrote that if Lynch’s application for reinstatement into the league were granted, his $9 million base salary would have to go on the Seahawks’ salary cap. That would put the Seahawks in position to cut him – or they could ask Lynch to return half of the $5 million in remaining signing-bonus proration on his contract for not playing last year. The two sides may also try to work out a trade.

While the possibility of Seattle trading Sherman has been well-documented in recent weeks, the possible Lynch-Sherman connection has yet to be reported. When questioned about the veracity of the rumors on Twitter, Werder responded: “Among reasons Lynch has been waiting was to see whether Sherman traded and whether that team needed RB.”

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