The New England Patriots' offseason will reach the next phase when training camp opens, beginning on July 19 for rookies before veterans report later that week. It's safe to say this year's training camp roster looks quite different from the 2024 version, especially after the Patriots said goodbye to several players this offseason to begin the Mike Vrabel era.
Chukwuma Okorafor is one of the various veterans who left New England this offseason, having joined the rival New York Jets on a one-year contract. Although a fresh start is exactly what the veteran blocker needed following an injury-plagued 2024 season, there's a good chance this former Patriot could sabotage the Jets from the inside.
Former Patriots OT Chukwuma Okorafor Will Sabotage Jets in 2025
Before joining the Patriots on a one-year contract last winter, Okorafor had established himself as a decent blocker during his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The former 2018 third-rounder started in 59 of his appearances in the Steel City, which included starting in all 17 games during the 2022 season. In other words, he had the type of experience that New England wanted to surround quarterback Drake Maye with heading into the latter's rookie NFL season.
Unfortunately, Okorafor's Patriots stint was nothing short of a disaster despite being named the starting left tackle before the season even began. Poor play in Week 1 saw him benched before the season opener finished, resulting in his stepping away from the team and being placed on the exempt/left squad list. He was eventually cut from the team in February.
Although a fresh start could be helpful, there's a good chance that the Jets will also be disappointed by the Patriots' failed signing. It's a small sample size, sure, but the fact that Okorafor surrendered three QB pressures on only six passing downs last season highlights how detrimental he can be to whoever is under center. That's without mentioning his lack of discipline, having amassed 29 penalties since the start of 2020.
Okorafor is projected to be the Jets' No. 2 RT behind 2025 seventh-overall pick Armand Membou, but things could look grimmer depending on how the season unfolds. As talented as Membou is, he's still a rookie, and the last thing New York would want is to give Okorafor more snaps than he can handle.
Of course, Patriots fans wouldn't complain if Okorafor hurts their AFC East rival more than he helps them. He isn't New England's problem anymore, and it likely won't take long for the Jets to come to the same realization that the Pats did nearly one year ago.