The details of various New York Jets free agent contracts are beginning to surface. After we learned about the structure of Brandon Stephens’ contract on Wednesday, the specifics of Chukwuma Okorafor’s deal were revealed on Thursday.
According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the 27-year-old offensive tackle’s contract is a one-year, $1.3 million deal with $757.5K guaranteed.
This is a proper valuation for the resume Okorafor brings to the table.
Chosen by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2018 draft, Okorafor started 59 of his 77 appearances across six seasons with the Steelers. He was the team’s primary starting right tackle from 2020 until midway through 2023, when he was benched in favor of rookie Broderick Jones. Pittsburgh drafted Jones in the first round of the 2023 draft to eventually replace Okorafor, who was lackluster throughout his tenure as a starter.
Okorafor’s resume entering the 2024 free agent market was enough to land him a one-year, $4 million contract ($3.1 million guaranteed) with the Patriots, which indicates that the league valued him as a solid backup. However, a tumultuous 2024 season diminished his value going into the 2025 free agent market.
The Western Michigan product opened the 2024 season as New England’s starting left tackle, but he was benched in the first quarter of Week 1 after being routinely beaten on the game’s first two drives. Okorafor elected not to return to the team after the game, and shortly thereafter, he was placed on the season-ending reserve/left squad list.
Okorafor’s meager contract with the Jets ($757.5K guaranteed) indicates that they do not see him as anything more than a fringe player who will compete to make the roster as a backup. This is an accurate valuation of Okorafor’s resume.
In turn, it raises questions about the Jets’ plan for the right tackle position. As of today, the Jets’ starting right tackle would be either Okorafor, Max Mitchell, or Carter Warren. None of those players are viable starting options; perhaps Okorafor could be argued as one due to his experience in the role, but his contract suggests New York does not view him as starting material.
Thus, Okorafor’s contract could indicate that the Jets are still planning to add a trustier option at right tackle. Jedrick Wills, Joe Noteboom, George Fant, Kendall Lamm, and D.J. Humphries are among the available free agents who the Jets might view as a better starting RT option than Okorafor.
The Jets could also address the need early in the draft. Missouri’s Armand Membou and LSU’s Will Campbell are both commonly mocked to the Jets at No. 7 overall. Membou is becoming the more popular option; he is a pure right tackle, while Campbell’s experience is at left tackle. Additionally, some analysts wonder whether Campbell’s short arm measurement will make him a better fit at guard.
While it is growing increasingly possible that New York targets a tackle in the first round, the Jets would be smart to hedge their bets. It is unwise to rely on the draft to fill a hole in the starting lineup. Membou’s stock is rising quickly enough that he could go as early as No. 4 to New England. The Jets may not even view Campbell as a viable option at right tackle. There is no guarantee they will be able to address the position without severely reaching on a prospect for the sake of filling a need.
If the Jets rely on the draft to fill the hole at right tackle, they could come up empty, leaving them stuck with a dreaded Okorafor/Mitchell/Warren competition. This would result in the Jets having a weak link in their starting lineup, possibly sinking an otherwise impressive starting offensive line.
Based on the details of Okorafor’s contract, do not be surprised if Darren Mougey and the Jets sign another right tackle before training camp. While this could occur pre-draft, it could also occur after the draft if the Jets do not sufficiently address the position on draft weekend. Once the first wave of free agency passes by, the remaining players on the market tend to stick around for a while, waiting for the right opportunity to arise. The Jets might be able to see how the draft goes and still target free agents like Wills and Noteboom afterward.
Okorafor is a worthwhile no-risk signing for the Jets’ offensive line depth. For about a quarter-million in guaranteed money, a 27-year-old player with 60 career starts and a third-round pedigree is an excellent value. However, his floor is too low for the Jets to risk any scenario where he starts in front of Justin Fields in Week 1.
Expect more work to be done at the tackle position – that is, if the Jets are serious about giving Fields his best chance to evolve.
