The Oakland Raiders have jumped into the mix for free agent running back Doug Martin, according to a tweet from NFL Network’s Rand Getlin.
Thought Oakland was done? I'm told they are now entering the Doug Martin sweepstakes. He could be scary behind that upgraded offensive line.
— Rand Getlin (@RandGetlin) March 8, 2016
This news comes on the heels of a report that Oakland had agreed in principle to a deal with free agent offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele, meaning that Martin would be in a position to have a fantastic season if he did indeed agree to a deal with the Raiders.
But potentially adding Martin is an interesting development on Oakland’s end. The Raiders already have Latavius Murray at running back, who had 1,066 rush yards and six touchdowns last season. That’s not bad for a third-year player, but Murray did struggle thanks to an inconsistent offensive line and just looked lost in some games, so much to the point that coach Jack Del Rio stated that Murray’s role would be “reduced” to a certain degree next season.
Considering how Martin finished second in rush yards behind Adrian Peterson last season, with 1,402 yards and six touchdowns for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, odds are greater than none that Murray would shift into a change of pace role if Martin did indeed head to the Bay Area. Moreover, playing behind a retooled offensive line that would feature Osemele, Gabe Jackson and Rodney Hudson, and maybe even Donald Penn, Martin’s production could potentially head into overdrive if he managed to stay healthy.
Nothing on this front is official, but be sure to stay tuned to Campus Sports for further updates on Martin and everything else from NFL free agency!
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
