Gang Green Nation
Taking a look at the Jets’ new offensive tackle
The Jets signed former Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor to a one-year contract early on in free agency. Today we break Okorafor down in detail.
The 27-year old Okorafor is listed at 6’6” and 320 pounds. He was a third round pick out of Western Michigan in 2018. He has started 62 games in his NFL career, nearly all of which have been at right tackle with the Steelers.
Background
Okorafor was a native of Nigeria, whose family travelled to the US from Botswana in 2010. Four years later, he was playing his first season at Western Michigan, having been a three-star high school recruit.
Having only played 81 snaps as a backup when he was a freshman, Okorafor started 39 games over the next three seasons. He was a two-time all-MAC selection and also earned all-American recognition in his senior year.
After attending the Senior Bowl and the NFL scouting combine, Okorafor was regarded as a potential day two pick and ultimately went to the Steelers in the third round.
His career got off to a slow start as he started one game at right tackle in each of his first two seasons and also saw action as a jumbo package tight end. In 2020, he was also going to be a backup, but then Zach Banner tore his ACL in the season opener and Okorafor got a chance to be a full-time starter for the first time.
He remained a starter over the next three seasons, with a total of 48 starts and over a thousand offensive snaps in each year. He signed a three-year extension worth almost $10 million per year in 2022.
Okorafor also began 2023 as the starting right tackle but he was supplanted after week seven by rookie Broderick Jones and was released after the season.
The Patriots signed him last March and he was in the competition for a role during training camp. When Vedarian Lowe was ruled out for the opener, Okorafor was forced into a starting role despite having missed some time during camp.
That would prove to be his only game with New England as he struggled from the outset and was benched in the middle of a drive. He didn’t return, having only played 12 snaps, and then spent time away from the team to reportedly contemplate his future.
The Patriots placed Okorafor on the left team/reserve list and when he didn’t return the following week, that officially ended his season. His contract tolled but he was released after the season anyway and picked up by the New York Jets during the tampering window for a minimum salary contract with a partial guarantee.
Let’s move onto some more in-depth analysis of what Okorafor brings to the table as a player, based on extensive research and film study.
Measurables/Athleticism
Okorafor has decent size with excellent length (wingspan over 83 inches) and big hands.
He was described...
