Steelers sign third round pick Chukwuma Okorafor to rookie contract

Three down, two to go...

Of the Pittsburgh Steelers seven draft picks, the team has been able to sign five of the seven to date. Earlier this month they signed NC State product Jaylen Samuels, followed by Penn State safety Marcus Allen and Alabama defensive tackle Joshua Frazier. Before Tuesday, James Washington, second round pick, was the latest to sign his rookie deal.

You can now cross third round pick, Western Michigan tackle Chukwuma Okorafor, off the list as well after the team signed him to his rookie contract before Day 2 of Organized Team Activities (OTAs).

Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) rookies signing contracts is a mundane experience. It has become more of a footnote than a headline, but getting players to sign on the dotted line is still news.

With the new CBA, each player is slotted, in terms of pay, based on the round in which they are selected. The only aspect of a rookie’s new contract is their signing bonus. Long gone are the Sam Bradford deals which break the bank, and in its place are deals which teams know exactly how much it will take to sign them.

Take a look at the seven Steelers draft picks, and who has signed, and who hasn’t:

Round 1: Terrell Edmunds
Round 2: James Washington — SIGNED
Round 3: Mason Rudolph
Round 3: Chukwuma Okofora — SIGNED
Round 5: Marcus Allen — SIGNED
Round 5: Jaylen Samuels — SIGNED
Round 7: Joshua Frazier — SIGNED