One of the more notable things the Patriots accomplished in 2024 under Jerod Mayo was addressing nearly every position of need through free agency and the draft. They might not have gotten the caliber of players needed or the most desirable of those available, but they still made sure to attack the roster in the way it needed.
The focus appeared to be on the offensive line, which had been a weak point of the offense over the last few years. It was made even worse with the departure of Trent Brown at left tackle since the team had no depth at the position to rely on in his absence.
So the new regime took it upon themselves to bulk up the offensive line roster through free agency and the draft, even double dipping in the early rounds to ensure there were bodies on the roster to keep the group afloat. But what they really lacked was a proper left tackle, as they signed players who had typically played on the right side instead.
That included former Steelers starter Chuks Okorafor, who signed a one-year deal with the Patriots and was expected to be the starting left tackle for the season. Although he had lost his starting gig in Pittsburgh, he earned the right to be in that role in New England. But that didn't last long and led to a lot of drama at the start of the season.
The Patriots are releasing Chuks Okorafor ahead of free agency since he wants to play in 2025
Suiting up as the starting left tackle for the Patriots first game of the 2024 season, Okorafor struggled and was benched early in the game. That led to the lineman essentially quitting on the team, sitting out for the rest of the season without much explanation.
The Patriots coaching staff didn't reveal any legitimate reason for his abrupt departure, which put the roster in an even worse position than they already were with the offensive line. It forced them to continuously claim players from the waiver wire in hopes of at least one player being starter level material, only for that to not turn out that way.
No update has been provided about Okorafor in the months since, until ESPN's Field Yates revealed his plan to play in 2025, as the Patriots plan to release him ahead of free agency beginning next month.
The Patriots will be releasing veteran OT Chuks Okorafor today, who was scheduled to be a free agent in March.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 10, 2025
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,…
That seems like a clear sign that Okorafor didn't want to play for Jerod Mayo, the Patriots, or a combination of the two. It seems odd that reports suggested he was questioning his NFL future last season, only for him to be ready to get back to the action as soon as free agency is set to begin the following offseason.
It's unfortunate it didn't work out with him in New England, and hopefully, he can continue his career elsewhere. While the Patriots are at it, they should really be looking into the kind of offensive linemen they can sign as Okorafor departs because Drake Maye needs a lot of help. The Super Bowl was another example of just how important good protection is for a quarterback.