Commanders new offensive weapon primed for breakout season

The Washington Commanders added plenty of new contributors on both sides of the ball this offseason. That was needed after a disappointing five-win season, but it’s safe to say that vibes are definitely higher now.

Most of the biggest additions came on defense, but there’s some interesting offensive pieces as well, like tight end Chig Okonkwo. Zachary Pereles of CBS Sports recently identified one breakout player for each NFC team, and Pereles picked Okonkwo for the Commanders.

Pereles offered the following rationale for picking Okonkwo:

The Commanders’ need to add speed and athleticism mostly focused on the defensive side of the ball this offseason, but they also added a player with both attributes to the tight end room in Chig Okonkwo. The former Titan is very good after the catch and has the burst to beat linebackers and safeties down the field, too. He set career highs in catches (56) and yards (560) last year in Tennessee. He’s only 26, and he should fit well in David Blough‘s system, which will have more play-action rollouts and opportunities for Jayden Daniels to hit Okonkwo on the move, where he’s at his best.

The Commanders’ need to add speed and athleticism mostly focused on the defensive side of the ball this offseason, but they also added a player with both attributes to the tight end room in Chig Okonkwo. The former Titan is very good after the catch and has the burst to beat linebackers and safeties down the field, too. He set career highs in catches (56) and yards (560) last year in Tennessee. He’s only 26, and he should fit well in David Blough‘s system, which will have more play-action rollouts and opportunities for Jayden Daniels to hit Okonkwo on the move, where he’s at his best.

As Pereles mentioned, the Commanders wanted to add speed and athleticism to the roster, and Okonkwo helps accomplish both of those things. The tight end has great speed for his position and has quietly been underrated in his career.

In 2025, Okonkwo played in all 17 games and caught 56 passes for 560 yards and two touchdowns. That level of production was impressive considering how bad the Titans’ offense was in 2025. Overall, Okonkwo has had at least 450 yards in each of his four NFL seasons.

Another factor that could lead to Okonkwo breaking out is the relative lack of pass-catchers in Washington. Other than Terry McLaurin, there’s not much to get excited about when it comes to Jayden Daniels’ weapons. This should lead to Okonkwo getting plenty of targets, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he hit a new high in catches or yards.

Last year, the Commanders relied on Zach Ertz at tight end. It’s not like Ertz was bad, but he was older and not the athlete Okonkwo was. Okonkwo should add an element to the team’s tight end room that hasn’t been there in years.