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Why Russell Okung Should Still Be a 49ers Target in Free Agency

By Bryan Knowles

October 22, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks tackle Russell Okung (76) blocks San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (55) during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 20-3. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
October 22, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks tackle Russell Okung (76) blocks San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (55) during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 20-3. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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The San Francisco 49ers have yet to make a splash in free agency.  Is there still time?

Although this may be news to Trent Baalke and the San Francisco 49ers’ front office, the free agency period has started. Most of the top free agents have been signed by this point, with a few notable exceptions, including Nick Fairly, Evan Mathis, Kelvin Beachum and Donald Penn.

There is an argument to be made for not overspending in free agency, of course, especially for a team in the middle of a rebuild—rather than weighing down the team with expensive contracts and guaranteed money, you can build through cheaper players with more potential via the draft—but this is taking it to an extreme.

While re-signing Ian Williams and Phil Dawson checked two needs off the 49ers’ off-season to-do list, both were relatively low on the list of priorities, compared to sorting out the quarterback position or the offensive line.

The one remaining free agent the 49ers should target above all others is Russell Okung, the ex-Seattle Seahawks left tackle. In the 49ers’ system, he’d move over to the right and provide a solid bookend, and an upgrade over Erik Pears from last season.

Okung has never quite lived up to the top-10 draft pick the Seahawks used on him back in 2010—you have a feeling that if the Seahawks had that draft to do over, they would have either taken Jared Veldheer or Mike Iupati there instead. Part of that has had to do with his availability, however—Okung has never lasted a full season in the NFL, thanks to a number of nagging injuries. When he has been healthy, however, he’s played at a Pro-Bowl level, making that team in 2012.

He’s one of the most physically gifted tackles in football. He famously bench-pressed 38 repetitions at the combine, and when coupled with his 36-inch arms and massive hands, he can handle most defenders that come his way. He’s not better than Joe Staley, but when healthy, he’s an upgrade over anyone the 49ers could put out there on the right, including a returning Anthony Davis.

Okung hamstrung himself in free agency this offseason by serving as his own agent—that means he missed the two-day negotiating period that happened before free agency officially opened, as teams were not allowed to contact players, even if they were also their own agents. That might be part of the reason he’s sat and watched as players like Mitchell Schwartz and Jermon Bushrod have found new homes. The man’s a 27-year-old left tackle; even if you’re not totally set on his skill set and think he’s below average, he’s still better than a third of the league. It’s very surprising he has not gotten a large offer to this point in the offseason.

Someone is going to benefit by getting a talented player still in his prime for a relative bargain cost, and why can’t that someone be the 49ers? Yes, moving Okung to the right side of the line is speculative, as he’s never played the position before, but it’s an easier move than going the other way. Okung may not want to play on the right—and he has other options that might allow him to continue protecting the blindside in Detroit or Pittsburgh—but the 49ers can easily match any salary offer another team gives out.

Most importantly, the 49ers need to make some sort of splash, if only to reassure their fan base that they’re not entirely punting on the 2016 season. Their five biggest needs are, in some order, quarterback, wide receiver, inside linebacker, offensive line and the offensive line again, because when you’re that big of a need you get to be listed twice.

As great as it is that the 49ers shored up their base defense by re-signing Ian Williams, they only use a nose tackle on about half of their snaps. Similarly, it may have seemed at times like the kicker provided 90 percent of the 49ers’ offense, but no one is thinking the 49ers’ problems are all solved because they re-signed Phil Dawson.

The return of Ian Williams was important, but not one of the largest holes the 49ers had this offsesason. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
The return of Ian Williams was important, but not one of the largest holes the 49ers had this offsesason. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

They don’t need to fill all these needs in free agency, and in fact would probably harm the team’s long-term development by attempting to do so. The seventh-overall pick in the draft could easily see quarterbacks like Carson Wentz or Jared Goff or offensive tackles like Ronnie Stanley or Jack Conklin make their way to the team, so they can afford to let a few positions go—but surely not all of them.

Yes, the 49ers’ philosophy is and always has been to build through the draft, and that is in general the right strategy. However, with so much cap room, the 49ers can easily afford to bring one or two young players in to shore up positions before the draft begins—it doesn’t even need to limit their options, as you can never have enough linemen.

Okung doesn’t represent just an upgrade at tackle, then, but a positive step forward for a fan base that has seen talented players leave the team in droves recently. It would be an assurance that talented players still can call San Francisco home, and that the 49ers will be trying to win games in the immediate future, not just compile draft picks and select more red shirts.

So far, the 49ers have signed no one of note from other teams. Hopefully, over the next week, they’ll find someone, somewhere who can add something new to the roster, rather than simply not taking something away.

Next: Remaining Players to Consider in Free Agency

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Bryan Knowles is a staff writer here at Niner Noise.  Follow him @BryKno on Twitter.