The New York Jets continue to fortify their offensive line.
Brian Costello of the New York Post revealed on social media that the Jets have agreed to re-sign veteran offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor in free agency.
Jets Fill a Key Hole on the Roster
Okorafor, 28, will turn 29 before the start of the 2026 season.
The 6-foot-6, 320-pound hog molly has appeared in 92 games and has made 60 starts. Last season, he appeared in 14 games for the Jets, but he did not start any of them.
The Jets were the only team in the NFL in 2026 to start the same five starting five for the entire season on the offensive line. So, Okorafor’s services weren’t required in the starting lineup.
However, he will be the Jets’ break-the-glass veteran swing tackle on the bench just in case an injury occurs.
The Only Potential Hiccup With This Deal
Okorafor is an experienced tackle. Offensive linemen are hard to find. The Jets found one that has battle scars.
However, if you were to squint at the move, Okorafor is exclusively a right tackle.
Across his eight years in the NFL, Okorafor has played 3,830 snaps at right tackle and just 12 snaps at left tackle, per Pro Football Focus.
Those ill-fated 12 snaps came during his brief tenure with the New England Patriots. He joined the Patriots during the 2024 offseason. Okorafor signed there under the impression he would play right tackle, as he had his entire career.
However, the New England coaching staff plugged him in on the blindside, and it was a disaster.
“They tried to make him play LT [left tackle] and he clearly wasn’t happy about it,” a Patriots reporter told me via text at the time of the signing.
In Week 1 of the 2024 season, Okorafor was the starting left tackle. He got benched during the game and never played another snap for New England. He was eventually placed on the reserve/left the squad list and was ultimately ruled out for the year.
“We did a good amount of investigation on that [how things ended with the Patriots]. To me being able to talk to the player and trusting the player and trusting his process is important. I think that goes with every player. I try to make it a point to have a conversation with every player on the team and just get a chance to get to know who they are,” head coach Aaron Glenn explained when asked about signing Okorafor last year.
“Same thing in the free agency process, get a chance to talk to every player and get a chance to understand who they are. I felt comfortable with his [Okorafor] answers,” Glenn explained last year. “I think he is a really good player. He is going to get a chance to go out there and compete. Obviously, we are trying to build this O-Line to be a dynamic O-Line, and we feel like he can be a piece of that puzzle.”
The Jets could still use a viable backup who has experience at left tackle. It’s unclear what the Jets’ plan would be if Olumuyiwa Fashanu were to get hurt.
Jets Sign Experienced 6-Foot-6 OL in Latest Free Agency Move