NFL News: Marshawn Lynch Seeks Reinstatement With Raiders, Colts Sign DT Jonathan Hankins To Three-Year Deal

Marshawn Lynch visited the Oakland Raiders early Thursday to actively negotiate a reinstatement in the NFL, league sources told ESPN’s Ed Werder.

NFL News: Marshawn Lynch Visits Raiders, Colts Sign Jonathan Hankins

The former Seattle Seahawks running back, nicknamed ‘Beast Mode,’ retired following the 2015 season, announcing his retirement in a vague Twitter post during Super Bowl 50 in February 2016 that showed his cleats hanging from a telephone wire. The Seahawks still maintain the rights to his contract but permitted him to visit Oakland last week.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, a deal between Lynch — who will be 31 on April 22 — and the Raiders “eventually will happen.”

Once the running back files reinstatement papers, his $9 million cap hit would be added to the rest of the Seahawks’ salaries, and this would probably lead to a quick resolution, as Seattle only has $9,836,983 in cap space right now, per the NFL Players’ Association.

This is not enough to keep Lynch on the roster for long without clearing out other players to sign this year’s draft picks or make any other changes to the Seahawks’ roster.

According to another report from this week, Lynch could also make his NFL comeback with the New England Patriots if he doesn’t land a deal with the Raiders. Werder added that Lynch “could team with Richard Sherman” if the cornerback is traded. Sherman, who still plays for the Seahawks, was teammates with Lynch from 2011 to 2015.

Lynch was drafted by the Buffalo Bills as a first-round pick out of California in 2007, and spent three seasons with the Bills before joining the Seahawks. He rushed for 9,112 yards and 74 touchdowns in nine NFL seasons, though injury limited him to seven games in 2015, when he averaged 3.8 yards per carry. He last played on Jan. 17, 2016, in a postseason loss to the Carolina Panthers.

The Raiders are in desperate need of a running back after Latavius Murray signed with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason as a free agent.

In other NFL news, former New York Giants defensive tackle Jonathan Hankins agreed to a three-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday.

The deal is worth up to $30 million, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, who cited the figure via a source familiar with the situation. The new contract includes $15.9 million guaranteed and $10.5 million in the first year.

Hankins, 25, who was drafted by the Giants as a second-round pick out of Ohio State in 2013, left without a deal when he visited Indianapolis earlier this week. The defensive tackle is ranked No. 11 on Around The NFL’s list of the Top 101 free agents.

The 6-foo-2, 320-pound defensive tackle posted the following message on Twitter to thank the Giants organization:

Besides Hankins, the Colts — led by new general manager Chris Ballard — have also added three powerful linebackers: Jabaal Sheard, John Simon and Barkevious Mingo. 

SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 22: Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Seattle Seahawks warms up prior to playing the San Francisco 49ers in their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 22, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)