Tag: Chukwuma Okorafor

Patriots veteran comments on state of offensive line in training camp

Patriots veteran shared his thoughts on the offensive line

New England Patriots offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor indicated that the team’s offensive line is far from set with training camp underway.

Okorafor is a new face on the line after signing with the Patriots as a free agent in March. He was previously a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he played in 14 games with seven starts in the 2023 season.

Now, he’s being thrown into the mix with a Patriots team looking for stability along the offensive line. The line itself struggled last year by allowing 48 sacks in total.

“Our coaches have said every day will be a different line,” Okorafor said. “We don’t really know who is going to be the guy yet. Obviously with Dave [Andrews] and Mike [Onwenu] we know about them but I think apart from that, everything is open.”

A solid offensive line would be a major component of the team’s success in 2024.

Ensuring the unit is in a stable spot is also important for the development of a rookie quarterback, assuming Drake Maye will see action later in the year. The line’s reconstruction will certainly be a storyline to watch as training camp continues.

Patriots coach Jerod Mayo not ruling out more offensive line moves

The offensive line situation in New England isn’t set in stone

The New England Patriots have made many upgrades throughout the offseason. However, they could still be looking to add depth at the left tackle position.

Coach Jerod Mayo didn’t rule out the possibility when speaking with the media earlier in the week.

There are options already on the roster. The Patriots signed Chukwuma Okorafor and added Caedan Wallace during the 2024 NFL draft. The left tackle position remains the biggest question mark on an otherwise solid offensive line.

Mayo has been pleased with what Okorafor and Wallace have done at the left tackle spot so far. He has also been impressed with Mike Onwenu at right tackle. However, he made it clear that he is always willing to add depth or make upgrades.

“I mean, I think, look, we’re always trying to bring in good players,” Mayo told reporters, via NESN.com’s Jason Ounpraseuth. “Those guys are doing well. We’ll see what happens as the roster continues to play out. Realistically, we’re still early in the process, and training camp will reveal a lot.”

The offensive line still figures to be an area of concern for the organization, following an ugly 2023 season. That unit isn’t without blame for the offensive failures that led to a 4-13 finish.

There’s hope they might be able to fix it with the newcomers on the roster, but it’s also encouraging that Mayo is leaving no stone unturned for improvement.

If season started today, this would be Patriots starting left tackle

The Patriots clearly have a plan at left tackle, per de facto GM Eliot Wolf

We may have gotten a preview of the New England Patriots starting left tackle position for the upcoming season.

When speaking with the media at a pre-draft press conference on Thursday, director of scouting Eliot Wolf indicated Chukwuma Okorafor would be the starting left tackle if the season started today.

Okorafor was signed by the Patriots on March 7 as a means to adding additional offensive line depth. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2018-2023, playing in 77 games with 59 starts.

He was released by the Steelers organization in February.

The Patriots could still acquire tackle depth with the NFL draft a week away. They have several holes to fill, and offensive tackle is definitely one of them.

This could signal that Okorafor is in line for a big role with the organization next season. There is still some work to be done, but it would seem as if the organization at least has a plan for the position.

Contract details for Patriots OT Chukwuma Okorafor released

Taking a closer look at OT Chukwuma Okorafor’s new deal with the Patriots

The New England Patriots signed offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor to a one-year deal on Thursday. The numbers for that new contract were revealed on Friday, via ESPN’s Field Yates.

Okorafor has played all six of his NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers up to this point. He was the Steelers’ third-round selection in the 2018 NFL draft. Since his NFL arrival, he has started in 59 games total.

He officially took over the Steelers’ starting role in 2020, and he was benched in 2023 after criticizing the Pittsburgh offense.

Yates indicated that Okorafor signed for just a little bit below what he could have made with the Steelers. The contract has a base value of $4 million and a maximum value of $8.25 million.

Okorafor will give the Patriots’ offensive line depth, as they look to retool that position over the course of the offseason.

What Chukwuma Okorafor signing means for Mike Onwenu

Will Chukwuma Okorafor signing impact the Patriots’ chances of re-signing Mike Onwenu?

The New England Patriots made their first strides towards beefing up their offensive line by reportedly signing former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor on Thursday.

Of course, that has a bunch of Patriots fans pressing the panic alarm on the team’s chances of re-signing pending free agent tackle Mike Onwenu to a new deal.

Take a deep breath. Relax.

This signing will not impact the Patriots’ ongoing negotiations with Onwenu. The Patriots are expected to make several signings, whether through the draft or free agency, at the tackle position, which was one of the biggest trouble spots for the team throughout the 2023 season.

Okorafor is a solid depth signing with plenty of upside at only 26 years old. Sure, he has starting potential, but he could also work into the offense as a rotational piece up front.

More than anything, the Patriots need reliable bodies to serve as a wall for whoever is under center at quarterback, and Okorafor is the kind of player that can help provide that sort of protection.

New England should still be very competitive in trying to re-sign Onwenu. Patriots executive Eliot Wolf wouldn’t have gone out of his way to call the former sixth-round draft pick a “cornerstone” player if he wasn’t serious about bringing him back on a new deal.

Nothing is ever certain in free agency, but when it comes to keeping one of their own, the new regime isn’t going down without a fight.

Report: Patriots agree to deal with former Steelers starting right tackle

Patriots reportedly make their first outside move ahead of free agency

The New England Patriots have reportedly made their first outside move ahead of free agency. Per the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Patriots have agreed to terms on a deal with former Pittsburgh Steelers starting right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor.

The move comes at a time of desperation at the tackle position for the Patriots, who are at risk for potentially losing both of their starting tackles in free agency. Both Trent Brown and Mike Onwenu are set to test the free agent market next week, and there are no assurances they’ll be returning.

So the Patriots made a move to help with their depth issues by signing Okorafor, a 2018 third-round draft pick with 59 NFL starts under his belt.

The Patriots are pushing to fortify the offensive front, following a disastrous 2023 season offensively. Okorafor gives them a reliable veteran option that should compete for reps on a unit that could be preparing to start a rookie quarterback under center.

15 free agents the Ravens can sign that don’t count against compensatory picks

We’re looking at 15 free agents the Baltimore Ravens can sign that don’t count against compensatory picks for 2025

The NFL’s new league is less than a week away. With the legal tampering period scheduled to start on Monday, Baltimore will look to retool on defense while making cost-effective decisions.

All-Pro pass defensive tackle Justin Madubuike is the biggest concern this offseason after getting the franchise tag, but the Ravens must also navigate 26 looming free agents.

GM Eric DeCosta has clarified that he’s prepared to lose several key starters and retool via the draft with a handful of 2025 compensatory picks.

The formula is simple.

If you lose more unrestricted free agents than you sign, you are eligible for that many compensatory selections. What round they come is determined by how big their contract is.

DeCosta and other general managers can take advantage of the rule by signing players released before their contract expires. Those players don’t count toward the formula.

According to Over The Cap, plenty of players who can help the team and not detract from the formula will be available.

Here are 15 players Baltimore could sign that wouldn’t count against 2025 compensatory picks.

15 free agents the Eagles can sign that don’t count against 2025 compensatory picks

We’re looking at 15 free agents the Philadelphia Eagles can sign that don’t count against compensatory picks for 2025

The NFL’s new league is less than a week away. With the legal tampering period scheduled to start on Monday, Philadelphia will look to retool on defense while making cost-effective decisions.

All-Pro pass rusher Haason Reddick is the biggest concern this offseason, but the Eagles must also navigate 20 looming free agents.

GM Howie Roseman has clarified that he’s prepared to lose several key starters and retool via the draft with a handful of 2025 compensatory picks.

The formula is simple.

If you lose more unrestricted free agents than you sign, you are eligible for that many compensatory selections. What round they come is determined by how big their contract is.

Roseman and other general managers can take advantage of the rule by signing players released before their contract expires. Those players don’t count toward the formula.

According to Over The Cap, plenty of players who can help the team and not detract from the formula will be available.

Here are 15 players Philadelphia could sign that wouldn’t count against 2025 compensatory picks.

1 pending free agent the Colts could target from each AFC team

Taking a look at one pending free agent for the Colts from each AFC team.

With free agency right around the corner, the Indianapolis Colts have the chance to make some key additions to a roster that already has some promise.

Working with some of the most salary-cap space in the NFL this offseason, general manager Chris Ballard and the front office can continue to add pieces to the defensive side of the ball while improving the supporting cast for quarterback Anthony Richardson.

Re-signing some of their own players like Michael Pittman Jr., Grover Stewart and Kenny Moore II will be key. But they also could look around the conference to bring in some outside talent.

We know Ballard isn’t one to make huge splashes in free agency, but they are still going to be an active team even if it means simply adding depth.

After taking a look at potential NFC targets, here’s a look at one pending free agent from each AFC team that should interest the Colts:

Steelers make 2 more roster moves in addition to QB Mitch Trubisky

The Steelers released Mitch Trubisky, Chuks Okorafor and Pressley Harvin III on Monday.

The NFL offseason officially started today and the Pittsburgh Steelers wasted no time making moves to clear salary cap space.

The team announced the release of quarterback Mitch Trubisky, offensive lineman Chukwuma Okorafor and punter Pressley Harvin III.

The writing has been on the wall for all three weeks now; it was only a matter of the Steelers doing the deed.

Trubisky appeared in 12 games since signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a free agent in 2022. Trubisky had a 2-5 record throwing in seven starts for 1,884 yards, eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Okorafor, selected by the Steelers in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft, played in 77 games with 59 starts. The full-time role he took over in 2020 was rescinded midway through the 2023 season in what was deemed a behavioral issue, and Okorafor was replaced by first-round rookie Broderick Jones.

Per Jason Fitzgerald at Over the Cap, the move saves the Steelers $8.75 million on the salary cap, leaving an estimated $3.1 of dead money on the books.

Harvin, a seventh-round 2021 NFL draft selection, punted 217 times for 9,473 yards (43.7-yard average).

The trio of moves saves Pittsburgh roughly $12.65M in cap space.

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