The New England Patriots have made their first outside signing of the offseason by adding Chukwuma Okorafor, who previously played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Okorafor, a 26-year-old offensive tackle, brings a wealth of experience to the team after starting his career as a backup and eventually earning the starting right tackle position with the Steelers. Despite being benched midway through the 2023 season, Okorafor has demonstrated his ability to handle a high number of snaps with 61 starts in the NFL. The details of his contract with the Patriots are still unknown, but his signing provides the team with flexibility and depth at the offensive tackle position.
The Patriots can use Okorafor as a veteran backup tackle with versatility. While he has limited regular-season experience at left tackle, he has shown potential in preseason games. With Okorafor signed, the Patriots now have depth at the tackle position with six players on the roster. The quality of the group remains uncertain, and the team may need to explore other options like their in-house free agents or the upcoming draft to solidify the position. Okorafor’s signing, while providing a foundation, will impact the team’s salary cap space. Additionally, he will not affect the compensatory draft picks formula for the Patriots.
