Marshawn Lynch and the Seattle Seahawks are parting ways; that’s the conventional wisdom. The Hawks will need to find his replacement and the draft could be the place to do it. Seattle could likely end up drafting a lot higher up than previously thought. This draft class is a great one for running backs, and Todd Gurley might not be in play now. With the torn ACL, Gurley could be best served returning to Georgia for his senior season.
That leaves Melvin Gordon all alone as the top amateur back in the country.
NFLN’s Ian Rapoport today on “NFL Gameday Morning.” on if the Seattle Seahawks will part ways with running back Marshawn Lynch at the end of the season:
“The short answer is yes and 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. They have tried to replace him in the draft bringing in competition for him on several levels [with Christine Michael and Robert Turbin] – neither of those guys 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.”
This makes a lot of sense as Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider has gone to the Wisconsin well a few times. He drafted his franchise quarterback Russell Wilson out of Madison, and his offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell played his college football for the Badgers as well. Then given the way the Seahawks season is going, and where they’ll likely be end up selecting in April’s draft, it makes for the perfect mock draft projection. (here’s our latest mock)
On Saturday Gordon set a school, Big Ten and FBS record with 408 rushing yards on 25 carries (16.3 ypc.). The NCAA single-game record was 406 rushing yards by LaDainian Tomlinson (TCU) vs. UTEP, Nov. 20, 1999.
Gordon did it in just three quarters!! With Wisconsin blowing Nebraska out of the water, he got to rest in the final period. Melvin Gordon has now earned himself a seat as a Heisman finalist in New York City. (Likely taking the spot that would have gone to Georgia’s Todd Gurley) He might have leapt him on the list of NFL Draft prospects at the running back position too.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and very often writes The Sports Bank.net ,which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his features stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks). His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN 2