While the New England Patriots lost one of their veteran offensive tackles, they have another one ready to go.
The Patriots signed former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor at the beginning of the month. And on Instagram, he announced that he will be wearing No. 77 during the 2024 season.
That number has been held by Trent Brown for the past three years, who left to join the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency.
Okorafor's deal came before the team re-signed starting right tackle Mike Onwenu. Okorafor has mainly played at right tackles as well, so he will most likely not be filling in for Brown.
He was released by the Steelers in late February after having signed a three-year, $29.25 million contract extension in 2022. He started seven games last season at right tackle, and has started a total of 59 games since entering the NFL in 2018.
A 6-foot-6, 320 pound offensive lineman, he spent his entire career with the Steelers, having been drafted in the third round out of Western Michigan.
However, him taking over Brown's number might be good for the team. The past year with the former Patriots left tackle was very controversial and it was clear Brown was not happy.
During Brown's introductory press conference with the Bengals, he threw some shade at the Patriots.
"I walked in the building this morning and he was in the hot tub getting ready to work out. So that even added to it, him being here on March 19 and the offseason program doesn’t start for another month almost. That was a huge thing right there in itself, just being from where we came from," Brown said. "When people get out of there for a release any chance we had.”
So it's a new start for everyone. That's probably a very good thing.
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