Patriots sign former Steelers offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor
The New England Patriots have started to try to improve their offensive line. The team announced on Thursday that they have agreed to terms with free-agent offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor. He has mainly played at right tackle. However, according to MassLive's Mark Daniels, Okorafor's signing, "is independent of the Michael Onwenu situation." "The Patriots are still […]
The New England Patriots have started to try to improve their offensive line.
The team announced on Thursday that they have agreed to terms with free-agent offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor. He has mainly played at right tackle.
However, according to MassLive's Mark Daniels, Okorafor's signing, "is independent of the Michael Onwenu situation."
"The Patriots are still trying to re-sign Onwenu, but if they aren’t able to come to terms, they have more depth at right tackle," Daniels wrote.
Okorafor was released by the Steelers in late February after having signed a three-year, $29.25 million contract extension in 2022. He started seven games last season at right tackle, and has started a total of 59 games since entering the NFL in 2018.
A 6-foot-6, 320 pound offensive lineman, he spent his entire career with the Steelers, having been drafted in the third round out of Western Michigan.
And along with Okorafor, the Patriots have also brought back Tyrone Wheatley Jr. by picking up his ERFA option. He made the news official on his Instagram on Thursday afternoon.
Okorafor joins Calvin Anderson, Vederian Lowe, Conor McDermott, Tyrone Wheatley Jr., and Andrew Steuber on the team, while Onwenu and Trent Brown are set to become free agents. The team is making a push for Onwenu, but Brown is most likely going to be playing elsewhere next season.
So let's see what happens, but bringing in Okorafor is a great start for the Patriots.
