When it comes to Raider news, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur has long been one of the reliable voices in the industry.
On Tuesday, Tafur passed along thoughts on both Marshawn Lynch and Michael Crabtree as speculation has been swirling around both players since the season ended – some suggesting they’ll be back, others saying it isn’t likely.
According to Tafur, both players might be trending in a positive direction toward returning next year.
“[Michael Crabtree] very well could be back with Gruden,” Tafur reported on Tuesday via The Athletic. “There is no question he is a much better value at $7 million than franchised-tag possession receiver Jarvis Landry is at $16 million with the Dolphins.”
With the salary cap expected to exceed $179 million in 2018, Crabtree’s salary becomes a little more affordable, but the matter to be resolved is more about the veteran receiver’s status within the locker room.
Exactly how much of Crabtree’s antics were related to the previous coaching staff?
As for Lynch, Tafur still believes the soon-to-be-32-year-old running back has improving odds of returning – something Tafur has been suggesting since the hiring of offensive line coach Tom Cable.
“It sounds like Gruden is warming to the idea of rolling with Marshawn Lynch, Jalen Richard, DeAndre Washington and Jamize Olawale. Of course, that would all go out the window if somehow Penn State’s Saquon Barkley fell to nine or 10.”
As has been noted, the Raiders face a significant date on Lynch’s status in about three weeks when he’ll be due a $1 million bonus for being on the roster.
If Lynch passes that threshold, it will be crystal clear that Gruden and Reggie McKenzie are serious about keeping him around for another year.
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Truth is, the coaching staff knows 1000x more than any of us, so we have to trust that they will put the best product on the field at the end of the day. Everyone laughed at the Raiders when they brought in “ancient” Jerry Rice back in the day, but he thrived under Gruden. Lynch, if he’s not being a total locker room douche, actually had a solid year, even though they inexplicably ran him and our enormous O-linemen outside in a ZBS.
I guess we’ll see…..
Even if Crabtree and Lynch stay, we still need depth at the WR & RB positions. Unless Gruden & staff can convert Patterson into an exceptional route runner and Jalon Richard into an every down back which I doubt. At least not in one season.