3 worst contracts on the Steelers 2023 roster

2. Chukwuma Okorafor: 3 years, $29.25 million

You can certainly make a case as to why the Pittsburgh Steelers were willing to give Chukwuma Okorafor a second contract. As the older generation of offensive linemen like David DeCastro, Maurkice Pouncey, and Alejandro Villanueva were exiting, Pittsburgh needed at least some sort of continuity and stability on the offensive line.

It wasn't long after that the Steelers inked Okorafor to a lucrative three-year deal worth close to $30 million. The guaranteed money in this deal is relatively low, making the contract somewhat manageable. However, at the time, this seemed like a lot of money to dish out to a tackle who might not even be an average starter when compared to his peers.

Over his first five NFL seasons, Okorafor has never graded out better than the 60th offensive tackle in the NFL. Considering there are only 64 starters at the OT position in the NFL, this is a cringe-worthy ranking. Okorafor's play isn't always bad. Like anyone, he goes through highs and lows. But the overall sample just isn't good enough.

I know the Steelers felt like they couldn't afford to lose another offensive lineman, but this was probably money best spent elsewhere. Okorafor would be best suited as a swing tackle; not a full-time starter making almost $10 million per season. It's only a matter of time before he is permanently replaced.