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New England Patriots Release OT Ahead Of Looming Free Agency

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Christian Paolantonio | Last updated Feb 10, 2025 4:28 PM ET

The Patriots are beginning their offseason transactions slightly earlier than other teams, starting the first wave by releasing offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor, per ESPN’s Field Yates.

Okorafor, 27, signed a one-year contract with New England last offseason worth a base value of $4.0 million with $3.125 million guaranteed. Unfortunately, Okorafor was placed on the NFL’s Exempt List in Week 2 of this past season and was never able to return.

Okorafor will immediately have the opportunity to negotiate and sign with another team following his official release.

The Patriots will be releasing veteran OT Chuks Okorafor today, who was scheduled to be a free agent in March.

This gives Okorafor a month head start to sign with a new team, which the 27-year would like to do.

He was placed on the exempt/left squad in Week 2 of this season,…
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 10, 2025

While it remains unclear why Okorafor was out for the entire regular season, this will regrettably end up as a negative on Patriots general manager Eliot Wolf’s offseason resume.

With hopes that Okorafor would be, at worst, a serviceable swing tackle, the Patriots ended up generating almost vero value from the former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman.

During his Steelers tenure, Okorafor appeared in 77 games and started 59 matchups, primarily at right tackle.

The offensive line was already a clear need for New England entering this year’s offseason, and eliminating Okorafor as a potential return will only limit the options for head coach Mike Vrabel in his first season returning to the team since his playing days in 2001-2008.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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