Oakland Raiders set deadline for former Seattle Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch

The Oakland Raiders are still waiting for running back Marshawn Lynch to officially announce he wants to resume his playing career with his hometown team.

Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie wants to set a deadline by next week's NFL Draft, which gets underway Thursday in Philadelphia.

A week ago, reports surfaced that "Beast Mode" was returning to the NFL after a one-season retirement, agreeing to a contract with the Raiders. That report turned out to be premature.

The Seattle Seahawks own Lynch's rights, so the two sides still have to work out a deal before Lynch could become a member of the Raiders.

The Raiders would like a resolution before the draft.

"At some point, you'd like to know. Prior to the draft is that point," McKenzie told reporters Friday.

Lynch hinted that he was interested in playing for the Raiders earlier this year. He is an Oakland native and played collegiately at Cal before embarking on his NFL career.

"Every indication is he is excited to play for the Oakland Raiders," Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said Friday.

The prospects sped up last week when the Seahawks granted the Raiders permission to negotiate with Lynch.

There was an assumption that progress was being made when Lynch tweeted, "I'm Thankfull!!!! Yes Lawd!!!!"

Lynch, who turns 31 on Saturday, retired from the NFL and Seahawks after the 2015 season. He has been on the reserve/retired list since May 2016.

Under terms of his existing contract, Lynch would be in line for a $9 million salary and cap hit in 2017, and he would be due a base salary of $7 million in 2018 and could potentially earn an additional $3 million roster bonus, according to ESPN. The sides need to agree on new contract terms before a deal could move forward.

Lynch racked up six 1,000-yard seasons in his career and rushed for 9,112 yards and 74 touchdowns in nine seasons with the Buffalo Bills and Seahawks. He topped 1,200 yards in four consecutive seasons for Seattle from 2011-14 before being hindered by injuries in 2015. He played in only seven games and recorded 417 yards and three touchdowns in his last season.