The Patriots are getting a jump start on free agency by signing ex-Steelers offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor, a source told the Herald.

Okorafor was released by the Steelers late last month after he had signed a three-year, $29.25 million contract extension in 2022.

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Okorafor, 26, started seven of 14 games last season for the Steelers at right tackle. The Nigerian-born offensive lineman started 59 of 77 games at right tackle since entering the NFL in 2018 as a third-round pick out of Western Michigan.

He joins Calvin Anderson, Vederian Lowe, Conor McDermott, Andrew Stueber, and Tyrone Wheatley Jr. — who is expected to re-sign as an exclusive-rights free agent, according to a source — at tackle on the Patriots’ 90-man roster. Mike Onwenu, Trent Brown and Riley Reiff are set to hit free agency next week.

Okorafor gives the Patriots flexibility in free agency and the draft at tackle, since he’s viewed by the team as a potential starter, according to a source. At the very least, he can raise the Patriots’ floor at swing tackle, where Anderson, Lowe and McDermott were thrust into action last season.

He was benched midway through last season for reportedly criticizing the Steelers’ offensive playcalling.

“I talked to Coach [Mike Tomlin] and he said it has nothing to do with my play on the field,” Okorafor said in November. “It was something that happened last week towards the end of the game. I wasn’t sure what’s going to happen, but we’ll see what happens next week. Hopefully, I’ll be back out there. I have no idea yet. … I kind of said stuff I shouldn’t have said. Being in Year 6 I can’t act out how I was acting out.”

Tomlin said at the time that the team needed a spark, so he inserted rookie Broderick Jones.