Russell Okung

[cheeno]

So your basing it on the draft position not the player?? That's super smart. Andrew Whitworth was the 55th pick. 1st team all pro in 2015. How do you explain that? I mean, my god, if 16th is middling......what is 55th??

Tom Brady was pick 199. Cut Stafford. Okung is a more well known quantity than anything we can get in the draft. Booger, quit while your behind.

 

[cheeno]

Exactly this. How many can't miss tackles and guards go in the first round that end up totally stinking up the joint? A LOT. I don't mind signing Okung if the money is right and everyone should already know we have to over pay to get guys to come here IT'S DETROIT PEOPLE WE SUCK.

Exactly my point KMD. I hope we dont overpay. We'll see if he get past the Giants and even visits. We may let him walk if he's asking too much. All speculation at this point. If we do overpay a bit...well we were sitting on what close to $40M in cap...the season ticket holders aren't going to be receiving any dividends. If Okung is our LT of the future get him.

 

[boogerlovejoy]

Tom Brady was pick 199. Cut Stafford. Okung is a more we'll know quantity than anything we can get in the draft. Booger, quit while your behind.

You just contradicted your own point.

You judge the player ..... Not the spot he was picked. Yes......I'd take Conklin or Decker in a heartbeat over Okung......who is nothing more than ok.

 

[dtroitlionsfan951]

I'd tell anyone, including Quinn, that I think it's a bad idea unless Okung would take 4 years/ $16M.

I'd be ok with paying Okung that.......but little more.

And again, how is the #16 pick a middling talent?

No way a starting left tackle gets 4 per. You have to consider market value.

 

[tbone413]

Im not gonna lie, I thought Okung was much older than he is....I heard on the radio he was 31, but hes actually only 27.

That being said, while I think Okung is without a doubt an upgrade over Reiff, I have serious questions over his health. He has never played a full season, and has missed at least 2 games in all but one season. LT is the most important position on the O-Line, and durability is extremely important. If the Lions offer Okung a deal, I really hope they also look into a solid backup through the draft. Dont say 'ok O-line is locked up' and cross your fingers for good health. I dont think Quinn is that type of guy, but you never know with this organization.

As for the cost - Id be thrilled with a 4 yr/$24 mil contract. Anything above that Id have some questions...

 

[tomdalton22]

Im not gonna lie, I thought Okung was much older than he is....I heard on the radio he was 31, but hes actually only 27.

That being said, while I think Okung is without a doubt an upgrade over Reiff, I have serious questions over his health. He has never played a full season, and has missed at least 2 games in all but one season. LT is the most important position on the O-Line, and durability is extremely important. If the Lions offer Okung a deal, I really hope they also look into a solid backup through the draft. Dont say 'ok O-line is locked up' and cross your fingers for good health. I dont think Quinn is that type of guy, but you never know with this organization.

As for the cost - Id be thrilled with a 4 yr/$24 mil contract. Anything above that Id have some questions...

Jeff Allen just signed a 4yr/$28M with the Texans. Okung will get a lot more than that.

 

[johnny2x2x]

Im not gonna lie, I thought Okung was much older than he is....I heard on the radio he was 31, but hes actually only 27.

That being said, while I think Okung is without a doubt an upgrade over Reiff, I have serious questions over his health. He has never played a full season, and has missed at least 2 games in all but one season. LT is the most important position on the O-Line, and durability is extremely important. If the Lions offer Okung a deal, I really hope they also look into a solid backup through the draft. Dont say 'ok O-line is locked up' and cross your fingers for good health. I dont think Quinn is that type of guy, but you never know with this organization.

As for the cost - Id be thrilled with a 4 yr/$24 mil contract. Anything above that Id have some questions...

I agree with this except that I think Okung is going to get a lot more than that. When healthy he is an upgrade over Reiff at LT, this would allow Reif to move to RT full time where I think he can be very good.

It's a risk, but it's a huge reward if Okung works out. I think he's going to get 5 years and about $42 million though.

 

[tbone413]

Jeff Allen just signed a 4yr/$28M with the Texans. Okung will get a lot more than that.

Christ, that's a lot for a RG...teams are spending like Crazy this offseason.

 

[boogerlovejoy]

No way a starting left tackle gets 4 per. You have to consider market value.

That's my point. I get that he's a talent upgrade over Reiff.......but why pay a marginal LT who cant stay healthy good money when you can draft a very good prospect in Conklin or Decker and pay them 1/2 of what Okung is going to make. And to be completely honest......I'm not sure Conklin or Decker wouldn't be BETTER than Okung currently is. They are both certainly better run blockers.

Seems like a perfect spot to INVEST the money in a long term solution that's going to be a value for at least the first 4-5 years.

To me, an Okung signing would be a very questionable move. I'll put it this way, would you draft Okung in the first round and pay him DOUBLE his draft slot if he had that same injury history coming out of college??

Of course not.

 

[tbone413]

That's my point. I get that he's a talent upgrade over Reiff.......but why pay a marginal LT who cant stay healthy good money when you can draft a very good prospect in Conklin or Decker and pay them 1/2 of what Okung is going to make. And to be completely honest......I'm not sure Conklin or Decker wouldn't be BETTER than Okung currently is. They are both certainly better run blockers.

Seems like a perfect spot to INVEST the money in a long term solution that's going to be a value for at least the first 4-5 years.

To me, an Okung signing would be a very questionable move. I'll put it this way, would you draft Okung in the first round and pay him DOUBLE his draft slot if he had that same injury history coming out of college??

Of course not.

I agree with your logic for the most part - and I am not 100% sold on the Okung signing, especially if he is going to command $8-10 mil/season like it appears. However, the way I see it is the 'benefit' of signing Okung would be that you don't have to then use that 1st round draft pick on an LT.

You have now freed up that pick to plug up another hole on the roster, which cannot be filled in FA.

If we don't sign Okung, I think you are absolutely locked into LT at pick #16. There really is no other option. Current Mock drafts show that 3 LT will prob be off the board by that time, so the Lions will get the 4th 'best' LT available. Sure it will still be a good player, but I am not sure that would be the best value for the pick, all things considered. If we lock up an LT, we can literally draft any position at 16 - more importantly, we can trade down a few spots and get more picks if the opportunity presents itself.

 

[boogerlovejoy]

I agree with your logic for the most part - and I am not 100% sold on the Okung signing, especially if he is going to command $8-10 mil/season like it appears. However, the way I see it is the 'benefit' of signing Okung would be that you don't have to then use that 1st round draft pick on an LT.

You have now freed up that pick to plug up another hole on the roster, which cannot be filled in FA.

If we don't sign Okung, I think you are absolutely locked into LT at pick #16. There really is no other option. Current Mock drafts show that 3 LT will prob be off the board by that time, so the Lions will get the 4th 'best' LT available. Sure it will still be a good player, but I am not sure that would be the best value for the pick, all things considered. If we lock up an LT, we can literally draft any position at 16 - more importantly, we can trade down a few spots and get more picks if the opportunity presents itself.

I can understand that. I truly do. I am all for improving the team.......just not with a contract for an often injured LT that hasn't been good in a few years. At the salary he is going to demand I don't see the value in that.

Now, if the terms are short....like the Ngata deal that basically allows us to cut him after this year will little cap implications......them I'm all for it.

Slightly upgrading a position (LT) that needs a substantial upgrade with a player like Okung and his likely $8M-$10M/year contract is not really much of an upgrade, all things considered.

But hey, we're due for some good luck.....right??

 

[mhughes0021]

locking up OT and DT prior to the draft would be a huge win for Quinn in his first offseason. I think aim would then shift to DE in rd1 or Treadwell.

 

[tonyballs]

Reiff was abismal in pass protection last year. Abismal. His own coaches won't commit to him playing LT next year. If we are all asking for a round 1 tackle is that proof enough (booger)? Do we want to get stuck with another middling talent at LT picking at 16? A Godser Cherlius. No one is questioning Okung as a left tackle in this league. His durability sure, his contract size, yes. But the guy is a far better option when healthy that Rieff or an unproven rookie.

Fair enough. I'm still not dumping a bunch of money in his lap so he can play 10-12 games. Or less!!!

 

[tonyballs]

I never argued that. I don't think anybody did. I said that when healthy, Okung was better. I didn't advocate signing him or throwing huge money. I only argued that when both players are healthy, Okung is clearly better.

But he wants big money lol. Im not denying he's better. But do you go with Okung, who is better but injury prone? Or do you go with the youngster who you hope progresses this year?

 

[inkfreq]

But he wants big money lol. Im not denying he's better. But do you go with Okung, who is better but injury prone? Or do you go with the youngster who you hope progresses this year?

If it takes elite money to land Okung, let him be someone else's IR problem.

If the money is reasonable, then welcome to Detroit sir.

 

[tonyballs]

If it takes elite money to land Okung, let him be someone else's IR problem.

If the money is reasonable, then welcome to Detroit sir.

I agree. Not against the player but i'm against the money he's potentionally demanding.

 

[zoombabyzoom]

https://twitter.com/mikesilver/status/708662447272435712

 

[atxlion82]

https://twitter.com/mikesilver/status/708662447272435712

If the money is right I am all for it

 

[mhughes0021]

Okung/Reiff > Reiff/Ola

 

[atxlion82]

Okung could upgrade 3 spots. LT move Reiff to RT as an upgrade am Ola as a backup