On the day free agents were first permitted to negotiate with other teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers kept one of their own, agreeing with offensive tackle Chuks Okorafor.
The Steelers confirmed the signing, which ESPN reports is worth $29.25 million over three years.
A third-round pick in 2018, Okorafor started at right tackle the past two seasons. He was their most tenured starter last season, when he was joined by two rookies, a second-year player and a veteran (right guard Trai Turner) who signed in June.
Okorafor served as an extra tackle/tight end as a rookie but could not win a starting job during camp competitions at right tackle his second and third seasons. In 2020, he was beat out by Zach Banner, but Banner suffered a torn ACL in the season opener. Okorafor took over and hasn’t meaningfully relinquished the job since.
Last year, coach Mike Tomlin said Okorafor was in line to start at left tackle — where Tomlin said he was a better fit — but Banner wasn’t fully recovered from his rehab, and the Steelers ultimately moved Okorafor back to the right side and started rookie Dan Moore Jr. at left tackle.
Okorafor joins defensive back Arthur Maulet and special-teamer Miles Killebrew as those scheduled for unrestricted free agency who elected to stick with the Steelers in recent days. The Steelers officially announced the Maulet signing Monday.
