De facto GM Eliot Wolf makes a bold claim about Patriots left tackle opening

The New England Patriots have many key needs before the 2024 season begins, and one of those is a crucial position on the offensive line. 

After losing Trent Brown to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Patriots are in need of a starting left tackle. And while many think New England is going to address that need during the draft, Eliot Wolf believes that if necessary, they already have someone on the roster who can step right in. 

“If the season started tomorrow, I think it would be (Chukwuma) Okorafor,” Wolf said when speaking with the media on Thursday. “But that’s more of a question for Coach Mayo."

And while he hasn't played much left tackle during his NFL career, he does have experience at that position. 

"He played in there in college," Wolf added. "And so we went back and watched that film, obviously evaluating him when he was coming out. And he's an athletic, big guy. So, we feel like he can make that transition back to playing on the left.

Okorafor was signed by the Patriots in March on a one-year, $4 million deal. 

The 6-foot-6, 320 pound tackle who was drafted by the Steelers in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft has spent his entire career with Pittsburgh prior to coming to New England. 

While left tackle is still a need that is expected to be addressed during the draft, there is someone the Patriots are comfortable with when the season begins.