NFL: Raiders: Lynch and Crabtree about to be released?

Jon Gruden’s Oakland Raiders may soon be faced with some uncomfortable personnel decisions. According to media reports, Marshawn Lynch and Michael Crabtree are also candidates for dismissal.

Team Managing Director Reggie McKenzie has recently made a positive statement about Crabtree and Lynch, but the road to Oakland could be over for both of them.

According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, the two routiners are on the cut list and could be dismissed primarily for financial reasons: Crabtree has a cap hit of $7.7 million, Lynch’s cap hit is just under six million plus possible performance bonuses.

Both could be fired without a dead cap and Oakland is currently ranked 23rd in terms of cap space: the raiders have $19.5 million at their disposal.

Lynch still had a solid season in 2017. The 31-year-old recorded 4.3 yards per run (891 rushing-yards, seven touchdowns) and was once again one of the NFL’s best running backs in terms of opponent contact. Crabtree on the other hand had its weakest season in years, perhaps his worst overall NFL playing time. Drop problems dominated his game, only 10.7 yards per catch reached the 30-year-old.