Why Russell Okung's "team-friendly" contract makes sense for Russell Okung

The Denver Broncos had a lot of shuffling to do in the offseason. That was apparent along offensive line long before the team’s final glorious victory in February. Since then, the entire line, outside of center Matt Paradis, has undergone an overhaul, and it started when the often-injured, All-Pro Ryan Clady could not agree on a pay cut. One man who would agree to a “team-friendly deal” was Pro Bowl tackle Russell Okung.

One man who would agree to a “team-friendly deal” was Pro Bowl tackle Russell Okung.

His first bold move on his way to Denver was representing himself, which players rarely do. The second was to bet on himself when the terms of the deal were hammered out. When the ink dried on the contract March 17, Okung agreed to a five-year, $53 million deal, calling it, “The best deal in the best place.”

Sounds fair from a general standpoint but the details reveal an interesting element.

According to Spotrac, the Broncos will pay Okung a cap hit of $5.2 million in 2016 and pays him a cap hit from $11.7-12.7 million the following four seasons. It also has only $200,000 in dead cap in 2016, $1 million dead cap in 2016 and descends to $250,000 dead cap in 2020, meaning the Broncos can cut ties with little financial consequences.

For Okung, his big pay days will come in September and later next year if he is still in a Broncos uniform. He will get a $2 million roster bonus in week one of 2016 and if he returns to his 2012 Pro-Bowl self while on the roster on the first league day of 2017, his 2017 and 2018 salary and roster bonuses are fully guaranteed.

In 2016, He also will receive a $1 million bonus, most likely by the end of this month, for completing 90 percent of the team’s offseason workout program. He also has play-based incentives throughout the first year of the deal.

In May, months after the deal, Okung was asked why he represented himself, what he thought of the barrage of critics who called the deal highly one-sided and why he remains so satisfied with how it played out?

“I thought it was a great opportunity,” He said of the experience of representing himself without an agent. “I think in a lot of various areas for guys, they kind of depend on people to do certain things. Some of it is at a level of aptitude. Some of it is a level of preparedness as well.”

Okung is certainly a cerebral player and off the field he is working on his MBA. He also realized early that this contract is highly dependent on his success in the coming weeks and then the entire grueling 2016-17 season, and that is exactly how he wanted it.

“Nothing I would do differently,” he said confidently when asked about the contract negotiations, “I would definitely say that it was a decision I made on my own. I was fully aware of what was going to happen and especially the ramifications that I would kind of run into. A lot of it is perception from you guys as well as a lot of click-bait assumptions. I think for me, I got the best deal I can. I’m so happy to be here and very grateful that the front office would believe in me enough as well as give me the opportunity.”

Okung, drafted sixth overall by the Seattle Seahawks in 2010, has started all 72 regular season games and 12 playoff contests (including two Super Bowls) since his arrival to the NFL. He has also allowed the league’s fewest sacks by a tackle who has started at least half of their games since 2010. In his last contest, a divisional-round loss to the Carolina Panthers, Okung suffered a dislocated left shoulder that required surgery. He was a partial participant in the team’s offseason minicamp and hopes to be “full speed” by training camp in late July. He will have to prove quickly that he is the can return to form.

The process to Denver and representing himself lead Okung to some interesting takes including how the Collective Bargaining Agreement limits players who are self-represented. He was under contract until March 9 which did not allow him to speak with NFL teams, a slight he believes is not regulated well with players who retain agents.

“I don’t think, within our CBA, that they took into account players that wanted to actually represent themselves,” he said. “You have actually a dead period where you can’t speak to teams. On the other hand, you have a lot of under the table deals being done and being reported, and not being held accountable for those either. There are a lot of things that need to change in order for guys who want to do it regularly. I think this is a great step.”

The criticism of his contract and representing himself was swift and across the entire football world. For Okung, he does not mind the attention.

“I would say if I listened to the media, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said. “I definitely can’t really take into account a lot of publications that don’t necessarily look to understand all of the facts. I think if anybody wants to ask me a question or understand it better, understand the facts first. Real facts—not assumptions. All that information is available to people and for people to see.”

However confident Okung is in his abilities and his health are, it seems the deal is configured so that unless he is simply outstanding in 2016 and appears able to continue that play into his eighth season, the Broncos will use his services for one year and release him. That approach is widely understood and even Okung, when asked about the clause that allows Denver to opt out after one year, put it bluntly.

“Yes, and I’m fine with that,” he said plainly. “That’s kind of why I signed the deal. I didn’t mind the deal. That’s why I wanted to sign it.”

While the contract’s specifics will remain under debate, both sides seem happy with the result. The Broncos have a very viable option at left tackle and Okung, after a serious injury, has an opportunity to return to football with a contender and prove to the Broncos or any other team, that he is still a top-tier player. The gamble is on himself and despite public option, Okung likes where he is, saying, “[There is] no better position for me to be in.” The Broncos have many reasons to feel the same way.