Russell Okung Set to Sign with the Denver Broncos, Per Report
By Zac Snyder
The Detroit Lions’ pursuit of OT Russell Okung in free agency is coming to an end with a report that he is finalizing a deal with the Denver Broncos.
The Detroit Lions have been one of a handful of teams pursuing free agent offensive tackle Russell Okung but it looks like they are now out of the running. Per a report from ESPN’s Josina Anderson, Okung is on the verge of signing with the Denver Broncos.
Sources tell me that OT Russell Okung is close to finalizing a 5-year deal with the Denver #Broncos worth $10.6M per year.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 17, 2016
The Broncos were a late add to the picture after losing Ryan Harris to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who also had some interest in Okung along with the Lions, New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks.
Concerns over Okung’s injury history and his late start to free agency because he represents himself had many thinking he would be best served by returning to the Seahawks on a one-year deal. A Pro Football Talk report said Okung was seeking somewhere between $11 million and $13 million annually. That seemed high but he didn’t have to settle much if the reported numbers from the Broncos hold.
Failing to land Okung means Riley Reiff is likely to stay at left tackle rather than being shifted to the right side and increases the liklihood the Lions draft an offensive tackle early in the 2016 NFL Draft.
That’s not necessarily bad news, especially considering the reported contract Okung has finally found for himself. Former NFL offensive lineman LeCharles Bentley regularly works with a number of offensive lineman a recent tweet should have Lions fans feeling better about Okung signing elsewhere.
Not an upgrade over Reiff. Reiff isn't great but you know what you have. Okung is a name right now. https://t.co/EWMNhgRe3n
— OLP (@OLPMedia) March 11, 2016
Whether or not Okung is an upgrade over Reiff is a side argument considering both would have played. The benefit would come from being able to play Reiff at right tackle, which would be a significant upgrade over the list of players the Lions have started there over the last two seasons.
The need for a tackle remains and the options on the free agent market have thinned considerably with Donald Penn re-signing with the Oakland Raiders and Kelvin Beachum signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Barring a trade (perhaps a big one for Joe Thomas?), the draft looks like the Lions chance to upgrade the offensive line at this point.