Los Angeles Chargers NFL Trade Rumors: Russell Okung Joins the Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers' offensive line woes were well-documented last season, so fans already knew what the team's top priority was when the free agency period started. Well, it didn't take long for them to address the problem.
According to ESPN's Josina Anderson, Russell Okung has agreed to sign a four-year, $53-million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, of which $25 million will be fully guaranteed. The offensive tackle was on top of a lot of team's wish list, but in the end, he decided to stay in the AFC West.
The Chargers might have succeeded in acquiring one of their top targets, but his signing was not without controversy. Last year, Okung tested free agency without an agent and he decided to represent himself again in contract negotiations this year.
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It should be noted that teams are not allowed to have direct contact with players before the start of the free agency period, but many believe the Chargers may have violated the rules.
According to 9News' Mike Klis, sources think the team may have negotiated with Okung before the start of the new league year, and Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk also reported the same thing.
"Some agents and teams suspect (they don't know, but they suspect) that the Chargers are communicating with Okung's advisor, former NFLPA-certified agent Jimmy Halsell. Because Halsell isn't currently certified by the union, however, teams can't talk to him on Okung's behalf before the new league year opens," Florio said in his report.
Okung could have avoided all this if he hired an agent, but he actually did quite well for himself by negotiating a long-term contract with guaranteed money. It seems that he has learned a lot from his experience last year.
The Chargers could still get into trouble if the league decides to investigate, but so far they haven't done anything to address the issue.
