Thursday, March 17, 2016
Well, we didn't land Okung....and it may be the best case scenario for the Lions
Today the long awaited news of Russell Okung's signing came down with what was a disappointing outcome for some. The Denver Broncos were able to acquire the 28 year old LT on a 5 year deal worth $10.6 million per year. Although the idea of adding a brand name tackle was rather intriguing, the truth is Okung was no where near the proven option many envisioned. Okung surely did not see a market where he'd be settling for a deal that is essentially a 1 year prove it followed by an option for more when he opted to represent himself, but now he is in a position where he has to show his worth all over again. Whether or not he can will be determined in the upcoming season but the structure of the deal itself, sheds light on what NFL teams pursuing him thought of his value.
In terms of the Lions, it's clear they saw a stop gap player. This isn't exactly an ideal situation for the team. After years of poking through the bargain bin for options at tackle, we really are not in a position to continue looking for one year solutions, particularly not at the cost Okung was demanding. Okung is still a young player at 28 but he has yet to play a full 16 game season since being drafted in 2010. He's made a name with his draft status & high talent level but he has not been able to put to together consistent efforts. A great contributor to that being his lack of availability. He has a pro bowl selection under his belt from 2012 but with every passing year the validity of that accomplishment comes more into question. His play has declined since & at this point, it's not even a certainty that he would replace Riley Reiff at LT.
With the draft coming next month, it would be prudent of the Lions to turn their attention to acquiring the answer at RT there. This is a perfect time to build a young, athletic, unit that doesn't break the bank. There are many options available & if Bob Quinn is as advertised those options won't be limited to a day 1 selection. Quinn's resistance to Okung could possibly be a key step in building the balanced team many of us Lions fans envision.
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Like you, I was not high on Okung. In his entire NFL career, he hasn't played a single full season. In four years with the Lions Reiff has missed one game. One. It is cliche but still true. The best NFL ability is availability.
ReplyDeleteI am also not of the opinion that the Lions are not close enough to being a legit championship team that stop gap players are worth bringing to the team. I would rather keep plugging in young players and looking for guys with a ton of upside. That means the draft and UDFAs. Those guys would be my preference over stop gap players and as you pointed out, that is all Okung would be for us at this point in his career.
BTW, great first article. Thanks for the read.
Appreciate it. Turned out half decent after a billion edits lol. Okung might've really screwed this process up not having an agent but I think his contract says it all. No guaranteed money, none.....zero. I can't think of another contract like it. His age & upside are intriguing but he wasn't right for us. He ultimately would have a year like those that have defined his career thus far & leave us at square 1 this time next year. Or he'd have a great year & leave us having to opt in big not knowing what exactly we'd be getting going forward. Elway did a decent job with that deal though, a team coming off a SB can afford those risks.
ReplyDeletenice write up Fiendish-
ReplyDeleteI am not sure what to make of Lions FA - I had initial "uh oh" thoughts when the first big fish to sign was a WR. It just gave me flashes, kind of like my irrational flashbacks when they re-signed Dan O... and he hasn't been bad. I can;t help but wonder if they saw WR as the top priority even if Calvin had stayed on another year. If you like a young player, and he hits FA and you have a shot at him, why would you pass? The failure to address the oline though makes me wonder if they are as concerned, or if they feel like they can get by based on the line play after the first 8 games of the season..... I didn't want them signing Okung to a crazy contract, but the deal he ended up signing... since he's roundly getting beat up for it as a bad deal for the player... seems like Lions could've been in the running... if he wanted to come to Detroit.
They don't seem to be signing many other sure fire starters so if this trend continues , the team could look pretty different from the depth standpoint to go along with a couple of starters.
Thanks Billy. On your Marvin Jones point, I really didn't see it as a "splash" signing. It was a definite need, it came at about a 3rd of what Calvin was set to make & it wasn't a pro bowl big name guy like say a Eric Weddle or Mario Williams. The only way it can be qualified as a "splash" is that it happened on day 1 of FA, the day after Calvin made his retirement official. That imo is the reason the move made the waves it did. I see Jones turning out a lot like Golden did....different player but a guy that everyone says "Is this guy really that good? He's never done this or that", but you put him on a team where he'll have more opportunities & with what is imo a better QB & that contract possibly looks like a bargain in a few years when that cap keeps sky rocketing.
DeleteI'm agree? on Okung....if the Lions REALLY wanted him it's pretty clear at least to me he could've been had. Just give him some guarantees. The guy is a quality talent, but he's not what his reputation says he is & I thought it was a smart move by Quinn. He would've been amazing for depth, but 10+ million & he may not even beat out Reiff? No thanks. Hopefully, with the scouting background of Quinn & his colleagues he can have a quality draft that hits on a few impact players.
Jones was the splash as the top guy, but I agree with the rest of what you say - he looked pretty decent, and he has a chance to get more opportunities.
DeleteI'm glad they haven't gone bug anywhere , and I hope it's not a cash saving move where they stop spending on talent. I want them to reward their own guys, and even Ziggy early. I saw somebody else mention that Ziggy is older, he could be looking at close to 30 when he could be "free" of the Lions ( year option plus tag) ....
It looks like Quinn isn't rushing now, and while I worry about Stafford's health, maybe the line will just be better but having the pieces back and Ola holding it down at RT
I think the line will be better over the course of this upcoming season simply due to Lombardi being gone. That said, I'm not willing to bet on Ola at all. I feel they need a significant upgrade. Even if that means getting a young guy in rounds 2 or 3 & letting him have a pseudo red shirt year like what Reiff had his rookie season. Time to start building a complete unit for the foreseeable future. I think we have 3 out of 5 pieces in place.
DeleteI like 3 of the 5 pieces and I am open to Swanson getting better.. but I do think they shouldn't just count on that, and need reinforcements, I'd prefer young players to develop behind them. It's great to have but two first round guards, that if they live up to expectations will soon have the Lions in decision mode on how to extend or re-sign them too, like Reiff soon.... If Laken and Warford both turn out to be first round stud guards, will the salary cap allow the Lions to keep them and have plus tackles locked up? It would've been quite the coup if Lucas, Robinson or Waddle had panned out.
DeleteI'm open to the line being improved by the starters they had last year having another year together but I think they still need to keep building the oline either depth or starters. more than mayhew whoi didnt start drafting lineman until the end or so it seemed
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