It's rare for any profe sional athlete to go through a career full of contract negotiations and re-negotiations, without an agent. But that's exactly what offensive tackle intends to do starting now. The former sixth-overall draft pick wrote his own declaration of independence Monday , explaining how he will go into free agency at the end of the 2015 season minus an agent. Okung explained his thought proce s: "Did I, entering the final year of my rookie contract and what Parker Kelly Jersey I believe will be the prime of my career, really need someone else to tell me my worth and not only 'find me a deal,' but take a cut of it? "No. So, before I became a free agent, I decided to free my agent." Before his rookie year -- and before the rookie cap was set by the new CBA in 2011 -- Okung signed a six-year, $48.5 million deal with more than $20 million in guaranteed money, a contract negotiated by agent Peter Schaffer. He's currently the 11th-highest paid offensive lineman in the league based on per-year average salary. Now 27 years old, Okung clearly has his sights set higher, po sibly at offensive tackle 's record . While Okung will avoid paying his agent a 3-percent commi sion on his new deal, he will be taking a sizable risk attempting to negotiate big numbers without counsel. NFL Media's Rand Getlin: "There's a plausible argument that rookies can do without agents (tho sic I think it'd be a mistake), but for large free agent deals? Not wise." In the prime of his career, Okung could be sacrificing bargaining power and a lot of dollars -- potentially more than an agent's 3 percent -- but he's clearly more comfortable betting on himself. "I know my worth," Okung continued. "I can look at the market and go directly to a team without an agent and tell that team my worth. And I can do so with confidence because I've done my research, I've educated myself and I've questioned the answers I've been given." *The latest Podcast including the new contracts for and . * Casey Mittelstadt Jersey