page_title: Russell Okung
section_title: Denver Broncos
hierarchical_section_title: Russell Okung / Professional career / Denver Broncos
caption_attribution_description: Russell Okung with Broncos
context_page_description: Russell Okung is an American football offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He played college football for Oklahoma State University, and was twice recognized as an All-American. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks with the sixth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, and has also played for the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers.
context_section_description: Following the end of his six-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks in 2016, Russell Okung opted to represent himself as a free agent in the NFL. Okung called his decision "Betting on Myself." During his free agency, Okung met with the New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions, was invited to visit with the San Francisco 49ers and didn’t initially rule-out resigning with the Seattle Seahawks.
  On March 17, 2016, Okung signed with the Denver Broncos on a one-year deal worth $5 million, which included an additional four-year, $48 million option. The contract he negotiated for himself for 2016, had no guaranteed money and was extremely team-friendly and incentive-laden and is solely based on his performance. Had the Broncos exercised the option to retain him in 2017 he would have received $21 million guaranteed for 2017 and 2018. He ended up starting all 16 games at left tackle for the Broncos in 2016.
  On February 23, 2017, the Broncos declined Okung's option on his contract, making him a free agent.
caption: Russell Okung Broncos – Practice 2016
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