Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is having yet another fantastic season. Lynch has rushed for 813 yards and nine touchdowns on 177 carries (4.6 yards per rush). But his impressive numbers aren't enough to change Seattle's mind about what to do with him after the season.
"Everything I'm being told by people involved in the situation...nothing has changed with the Seahawks' plans to part ways with Marshawn Lynch after the season," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said on "NFL Gameday Morning." "They have tried to replace him in the draft, bringing in competition for him on several levels. Neither [Christine Michael nor Robert Turbin] have turned into franchise backs.
"This is a value issue. First of all they need Marshawn Lynch's salary for other salaries, including Russell Wilson.
"I would expect them to target a running back high in the draft. Pay attention to Melvin Gordon, who just set the national rushing record. He's from Wisconsin; [GM] John Schneider's from Wisconsin."
Rapoport seems a bit quick to judge Seattle's lesser known rushers. While it's true that neither Michael nor Turbin have lit the NFL on fire, the duo has just a combined three years of NFL experience between them. Their window of opportunity has hardly been big enough to judge them accurately.
However, we know that coach Pete Carroll's system requires a dominant running game. With Georgia Tech running back Todd Gurley tearing his ACL in his first game back from suspension this week, Gordon does appear to be the top back in the draft. ESPN NFL Insider Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Gordon No. 9 in his latest Big Board, and that was before his 408-yard performance on Saturday.
"He's healthy, and he keeps putting up huge numbers even when everybody in the stadium knows he's getting the ball," Kiper wrote. "Gordon is an easy accelerator, and he cuts with explosiveness and little wasted motion. He will miss a hole here and there in search of a bigger lane, but he has good vision, isn't afraid of contact and has breakaway speed when he gets in space. Here's hoping health doesn't become an issue because of the workload."
The Seahawks would likely have to trade up in the draft if they fell in love with Gordon. But this franchise has been aggressive and willing to take risks under Carroll and Schneider's leadership.
