It has been a couple of months since the last update on Bucs offensive tackle Ben Chukwuma. Since the team gave the undrafted free agent a $300,000 guarantee and a spot on the 53-man roster, how has Chukwuma, or “Chuks,” been developing?

Pewter Report spoke to Chukwuma, as well as offensive tackles Tristan Wirfs and Charlie Heck, for more insight in late October. Since getting in valuable playing experience throughout mini-camp, OTAs, training camp, and the preseason the 6-foot-6, 310-pound offensive lineman has come out of his shell and is working to be ready for when his opportunity comes when it counts.

Ben Chukwuma Learning What It Means To Be An NFL Swing Tackle

Backup NFL offensive tackles have a difficult job. To truly earn playing time, they have to be ready to play left and right tackle in a moment’s notice. It is not the easiest transition, with Bucs left tackle Tristan Wirfs attesting to that despite being an All-Pro on each side. Even right tackle Charlie Heck had to quickly adjust this season after being Tampa Bay’s left tackle throughout training camp and the preseason when Wirfs was out, only to switch sides when the team made the last-second switch to kick center Graham Barton out to the blindside.

All of this is to say, developing as an offensive tackle is not always a linear, straightforward process.

That is what makes Ben Chukwuma’s rapid ascension all the more noteworthy.

Bucs OC Josh Grizzard and LT Ben Chukwuma – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Chukwuma’s story is one you do not hear every day, as he is especially new to the game. Moving from Nigeria to Georgia at 17 years old, he would not play in his first professional football game until suiting up for Georgia State in 2023. As someone who flashed plenty of potential, general manager Jason Licht and the front office took a chance on what he eventually could be.

All he did in the offseason was flash that promise with a solid showing throughout training camp and the preseason, playing both left and right tackle.

“I mean coming in, I started playing left tackle,” Chukwuma said. “In my preseason games, I played left tackle. In the week going into the last preseason game, the coaches were like, ‘Ben, you’re going to play right tackle in the game.’ I was like, ‘Oh.’ [laughs] Then I started playing right tackle for that week, going into the preseason game, so now I’m playing left and right. I feel from that first day of mini-camp to now, I’ve developed a lot. Being comfortable on the right side and also the left side means a lot for me.”

It was a small preseason sample size, but Chukwuma more than handled his own in 75 pass-blocking snaps across three games. He allowed just one pressure, and in the Bucs’ preseason finale against the Bills, Chuks held his own against the likes of defensive ends A.J. Epenesa and Landon Jackson.

Bucs LT Ben Chukwuma – Photo by: USA Today

Charlie Heck believes he has grown by leaps and bounds since joining the team, and that he is someone who would be more than capable of playing at an NFL level.

“Yeah, exponentially,” Heck said of Chukwuma’s progress. “I think that [during] mini-camp, he was kind of a fish out of water. In training camp, he really started to look like an NFL offensive tackle. Right now, he could be out there ready to play, for sure.”

On the flip side, Chukwuma admires the way Heck played filling in for Luke Goedeke, which required him to move from left to right tackle.

“I’m blessed to be around people like that,” Chukwuma said. “It’s not just teaching me, it’s showing me. Not only saying, ‘Do this, do that. I’m telling you to do this because I know I can do it.’ Seeing all of those players make those plays, make those transitions, seeing Charlie make the transition from left to right because Luke [Goedeke] is out, it’s amazing to see. I’m just trying to be like him. I’m just trying to see. ‘I see you doing this.’ I’m just trying to learn from him, I’m trying to be my very best to show them if Charlie can do it, I can do it.”

Chukwuma sees what Heck did for a stretch of the season and what he does in practice as motivation.

“Charlie doing what he’s doing motivates me every day to keep going,” Chukwuma added. “I can be the next tackle; I want to maintain that standard and do even better.”

Ben Chukwuma Is A Sponge And Coming Out Of His Shell

From someone who moved over to the United States nearing adulthood, Ben Chukwuma has had to make a lot of adjustments. Not just on the football field as he learns the game, but also fitting in. Thankfully for Chukwuma, he is doing so playing alongside an easy group of guys to get along with in the Bucs’ offensive line room.

There is a lot of energy and friendly competition among them, with Tristan Wirfs leading the group. Even though he could not be out there with him in a game setting as he was recovering from offseason knee surgery, Wirfs has overseen how Chukwuma has grown as a player and a person.

Bucs OT Ben Chukwuma and G Elijah Klein – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“He’s like a sponge, you know?” Wirfs said. “He just wants to learn and wants to get better. To see him come out of his shell a little bit. When I first got here, it was hard for me because he was here in the summer and he was texting me the day before I got surgery. ‘I’d love to get some work in this offseason.’ I was like, ‘Ben, Chuks, I’d love to dude. I’m getting surgery tomorrow.’ Nobody knew. I was like, ‘I’ll be around. Ask me anything you want, I’ll be here.’

“I would have loved to work with him this summer, get in some drills and stuff. I was here and we talked; he asked me questions. To see him develop in his technique and how far he’s come from then until now. Coming out of his shell vocally in our room around all of us is awesome. It’s been really fun to see, fun to watch, and be a part of.”

Charlie Heck reiterated his belief in Chukwuma’s skills and sees someone who is only improving after each practice.

“I mean “Chuks” is a talented guy,” Heck said. “I’m excited to follow his career in the NFL because you’ll see him in practice get his hands on people and he is a strong, talented dude. He’s working every day, cleaning up his technique and getting in the playbook. The sky is the limit for Chuks.”

When No One Is Watching, Ben Chukwuma Is Working

Bucs offensive line coaches Kevin Carberry and Brian Picucci deserve a lot of credit for the work they have done to keep the room afloat this season. Playing without Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke, and Cody Mauch for multiple games, and with Ben Bredeson currently down, they have had to put together makeshift offensive lines on the fly. Although Ben Chukwuma has not been part of any of those configurations, that does not mean they are neglecting their developmental player.

Chukwuma looking polished throughout the offseason and unlike someone new to the game of football is a product of working with him, even when practice ends.

Bucs LT Ben Chukwuma and OL coach Kevin Carberry – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“That’s a testament to “Carbs” and “BP,” Wirfs said of Chukwuma’s improvement. “Carbs is an awesome coach, getting him dialed in, they spend time together after practice doing stuff. Chuks just wants to learn, wants to get better. We’re all just so tight knit, just trying to get better.”

Seeing how the offensive line has risen to the challenge throughout the season is something that Chukwuma finds a lesson in. Everyone has had to move around, with Tampa Bay already being forced to play five different players at right guard. That only makes him hungrier and more eager to be prepared.

“It keeps me grounded,” Chukwuma said. “It keeps me on that edge, ‘I want to do great.’ I want to keep striving, keep developing so I can be my very best when I’m called [upon].”

Asked about his next goals, Ben Chukwuma kept them simple.

“Behind the scenes, I’m taking the practice reps like I’m going to start the game. Going into the game like I’m going to start the game, I’m playing in the game. Regardless of whatever happens, I’m already prepared and I’m staying ready. My goal right now is to keep improving, keep getting better, keep developing. Getting down my left side and my right side so whenever I’m called up, I’m ready for the test ahead.”