Russell Okung
Okung’s name has been hot on the presses for weeks now after it appearedthe Denver Broncos wouldn’t re-sign the former Seahawks left tackle. There has been renewed interest in the former Pro Bowler in Denver and several other cities around the league. Even though Okung was part ofthe 24th-best offensive linethis season (the Seahawks, unsurprisingly, were dead-last according to Pro Football Focus), the interest is warranted.
The Seahawks will take anyone (anyone) worth a damn at left tackle to keepRussell Wilsonfrom getting injured, as he was last year in Week One. Carroll mentioned that he and the team would pursue free agents “very aggressively and very actively” this offseason, yethe and Schneider also saidthey’d re-sign last year’s starting left tackleGeorge Fantand right tackleGarry Gilliamfor some reason.
Carroll and Schneider are likely just playing the game, however. The market for offensive linemen is small right now. Okung and 35-year-old Pro Bowl left tackleAndrew Whitworthare the best available at this point. Okung has the leverage to seek top-market left tackle pay, likely around the $48 million option the Broncos declined to pick up.
Okung was widely mocked for acting as his own agent and negotiating a pay-as-you-go contract withJohn Elwayand the Broncos, but it appears he’s set to cash in.
The Seahawks haven’t spent much on outside free agents in recent years, preferring to pay their own players. For Okung, the first draft pick of the Pete Carroll/John Schneider era, they may make an exception. The Seahawks have more salary cap room than they have had in recent years. Investing in the 29-year-old left tackle might be a sound decision.
Add us as a preferred source onGoogleLoading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations