Turning their focus to offensive line depth, the New York Jets have made three re-signings in the past three days.
After re-upping with tackle Max Mitchell and guard/center Xavier Newman, the Jets made perhaps their most significant re-signing by bringing back Chukwuma Okorafor. According to Brian Costello of the New York Post, Okorafor is returning to New York on a one-year deal.
Okorafor, 28, was on the Jets’ roster as a backup right tackle throughout the 2025 season, but did not play any offensive snaps due to the durability of starter Armand Membou. Okorafor played in 14 games but appeared only on special teams.
The 2018 third-round pick out of Western Michigan has ample starting experience in the NFL. Across his first six NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Okorafor started 59 games at right tackle. He generally performed at the level of a below-average starter, which makes him a high-end backup.
In 2024, Okorafor joined the New England Patriots, where he started at left tackle in the season opener, marking his first career start at the position. The experiment went poorly, as Okorafor was consistently beaten in pass protection, prompting the Patriots to quickly pull him from the game. Okorafor refused to show up to practice the following week and spent the season on the exempt/left squad list.
Okorafor joined the Jets in 2025 on a one-year deal for the league minimum.
With recent moves, here is a look at the Jets’ projected offensive line depth chart:
- LT: Olu Fashanu
- LG: Dylan Parham
- C: Josh Myers
- RG: Joe Tippmann
- RT: Armand Membou
- Backup OT: Max Mitchell, Chukwuma Okorafor
- Backup IOL: Xavier Newman, Kohl Levao, Marquis Hayes, Liam Fornadel
