Broncos Signs OT Russell Okung To A One-Year Deal With A Four-Year Option

March 17, 2016

Update:

ESPN’s Adams Schefter reports that Russell Okung‘s new contract with the Broncos includes no guaranteed money.

According to Field Yates, Okung receives a $1 million workout bonus, a $2 million base salary, and a $2 million roster bonus for being on the Broncos’ 53-man for at least the first game of the season.
Jeff Legwold points out that Okung’s contract would have some guaranteed money later on if the Broncos pick up his four-year option. According to Legwold, Okung’s base salaries in 2017 ($2 million) and 2018 ($9.5 million) in guarantees.

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Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that Russell Okung‘s contract with the Broncos is essentially two contracts in one.

La Canfora mentions that Okung gets $5 million guaranteed in 2016 with a chance to make up to $8 million in incentives.
The Broncos will have a window of time next year to pick up a four-year option worth $48 million and $20.5 million guaranteed, according to La Canfora.
Okung could make $10.6 million per year if he can stay healthy and produce.
La Canfora adds that the Lions had just a one-year offer on the table for him while the Steelers had been offering a long-term deal with very limited guarantees.

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Josina Anderson of ESPN is reporting that that the Broncos are close to finalizing a five-year deal with OT Russell Okung.

According to Anderson, the contract would pay Okung $10.6 million per year over the course of five years.
Ian Rapoport adds that Okung’s contract is worth up to $12 million per year.
One factor that was particularly important to Okung, according to Anderson, was to remain at left tackle.

Okung was meeting with the Broncos today after visiting a number of teams including the Lions, Seahawks and Giants since the market opened last week. The 49ers were reportedly in the mix as well.

However, it appears as though the Broncos were the most competitive teams in terms of their offer.

Now that it appears as though Clady is heading to Denver, you would have to think this will be the end of Ryan Clady‘s time with the Broncos.

Okung was drawn a lot of criticism for representing himself in free agency, rather than hiring an agent, so it will be interesting to see the specifics of this deal.

Okung, 27, played out his six-year, $48.5 million contract that included $30 million guaranteed. He made a base salary of $4.8 million for the 2015 season and was testing the open market as a unrestricted free agent.

In 2015, Okung appeared in 13 games for the Seahawks and was rated by Pro Football Focus as the No. 26 offensive tackle of 76 qualifying players.

We have him featured in our Best Available Free Agents list.