Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor didn't make it to free agency before signing with a new team, landing with the New England Patriots on a one-year deal. And now, details of his contract have been released.
According to ESPN's Field Yates, the former Steelers right tackle is set to make $4 million as a base salary this season with a ceiling of $8.25 million for his one-year deal.
New Patriots OT Chukwuma Okorafor signed a 1-year deal with a base value of $4M and a maximum value of $8.25M. That max value is just below what he could have made in the final year of his deal with the Steelers.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 8, 2024
Okorafor will join just his second NFL team since being drafted by the Steelers in 2018. The 26-year-old signed an extension in Pittsburgh in 2022, inking a three-year deal worth $29.25 million. But after being benched for rookie Broderick Jones this past season, the team moved on from their former third-round pick.
With the release, the Steelers saved $8.75 million in salary cap space. As of now, Jones will be viewed as the starting right tackle, but Pittsburgh met with a number of incoming right tackles during the NFL Combine and could look to move Jones back to the left side in his second season.
Okorafor will have an opportunity to compete this summer, but his outlook in New England is unknown as of now.
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