Steelers All 90: LT Chukwuma Okorafor
All 90 is a Pittsburgh Steelers Now series profiling each of the 90 members of the Steelers 2021 offseason roster.
76 • Chukwuma Okorafor, fourth-year left tackle
6-foot-6, 320 pounds
Acquired: Selected by the Steelers in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Last season: For the second straight season, Okorafor entered training camp in a battle with fellow tackle Zach Banner, and for the second straight season, Okorafor finished in second place, losing out for the starting right tackle job.
But Banner was lost for the season to an ACL injury in Week 1, and Okorafor took the reins, starting the final 15 games of the 2020 season.
The results were a mixed bag. Okorafor was rated as the No. 104 tackle in the NFL last season by Pro Football Focus, and the third-worst to appear in all 16 of his team’s games. Okorafor rated significantly better in pass protection than he did in run blocking.
Career: Okorafor made three starts as a rookie due to injuries to Marcus Gilbert and Matt Feiler. He appeared in just one game in 2019, serving as the team’s No. 4 tackle after losing out on the swing backup job to Banner in the preseason.
College: A two-time All-MAC selection and an All-American in 2017, Okorafor was a highly decorated member of Western Michigan’s offensive line. He started his sophomore season at right tackle in 2015 before moving to left tackle for his junior and senior seasons.
Camp outlook: Okorafor will be looking to make the same move he made in college in the pros, transitioning from right tackle to left tackle, which many have said is a more natural position for him.
He’s the presumptive starter at his new spot, with next to no real internal competition, though the Steelers could ply the free agent market if Okorafor fails to impress early in camp.
Future: Okorafor is entering the final season of his rookie contract and will be an unrestricted free agent next spring.
The rest of the 90:
Read This Next
