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The Washington Commanders needed to make some changes this offseason. They started by promoting David Blough to offensive coordinator and hiring Daronte Jones as defensive coordinator. Then, Adam Peters attacked free agency and brought in plenty of new faces on both sides of the ball.
One of those new faces was tight end Chig Okonkwo. Okonkwo spent his first four seasons with the Tennessee Titans, but it was clear they did not know how to use him. Okonkwo isn't a blocking tight end, mostly because he was a wide receiver before he became a tight end, so he uses that to his advantage. How he plays is actually quite similar to how Zach Ertz played, so the Commanders should be able to slide him in with ease.
A recent CBS Sports article by Zachary Pereles named Okonkwo one of 50 under-the-radar players to watch in 2026.
Okonkwo has the speed and athleticism to be a strong fit in David Blough's offense, which will feature more under-center play-action concepts that can get him the ball in space. One of the best tight ends in the NFL after the catch, Okonkwo joins a team with few pass-catching options behind Terry McLaurin.
Pereles grouped his under-the-radar players into groups: Under-recognized players ready to make a star leap, Bounce-back candidates, Second-year jump, Known face, new place, Trenches, and Supporting a Star. Okonkwo landed in the "known face, new place" category.
Considering the options Jayden Daniels will have to throw to this season, adding Okonkwo provides him a safety net. Statistically, he is among the top tight ends in the league, especially when discussing yards after the catch. His biggest weaknesses are pass protection and blocking, but everything else he does is at a high level. If the Commanders use him right and play to his strengths, he can be a huge asset for their offense in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders' Chig Okonkwo an under-the-radar player to watch in 2026
