Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman and 2018 NFL Draft pick Chukwuma Okorafor has reportedly left his new team, New England Patriots.
The Patriots announced Saturday that Okorafor was placed on the exempt/left team list, which is pretty self-explanatory. Okorafor signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Pats this offseason and started in Week 1, but was benched after playing just 12 snaps.
That’s apparently what led to his departure from the team. In those 12 snaps, all played as a left tackle (6 as pass-blockers), Okorafor allowed three pressures and a QB hit, so it’s pretty understandable why the Pats cut him.
A former third-round pick of the Steelers in 2018, Okorafor spent six seasons with the Steelers, appearing in 77 games at right tackle, including 59 as a starter. He earned a hefty three-year, $29.2 million contract extension after his rookie deal, but it didn’t work out.
Okorafor is no stranger to being benched. He began last season as the Steelers’ starter at right tackle before being replaced by 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones, who looks set to be benched himself before the week 2 game against the Denver Broncossince rookie Troy Fautanu is expected to start.
The Steelers will face the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 2, while the Patriots will meet the The Seattle Seahawks.
