The Washington Commanders were in dire straits at tight end following the 2025 season. Veteran starter Zach Ertz suffered a catastrophic knee injury in Week 14. Second-round pick Ben Sinnott seems like a bust after 2 seasons.
Another tight end, John Bates, is basically getting paid $7 million per year to block, which makes little sense for a team without an elite running back.
The Commanders needed a playmaker, so they went out and got 1 in free agency on Wednesday, agreeing with Chig Okonkwo on a reported 3-year, $30 million contract.
“The Commanders are expected to sign free agent TE Chig Okonkwo, giving him a 3-year deal worth up to $30M,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account. “The Commanders land the top tight end available.”
Chig Okonkwo Called ‘Top Trade Asset’ Before Season
Okonkwo, 6-foot-3 and 238 pounds, spent his first 4 seasons on the Titans playing for increasingly worse teams — and 3 different head coaches. Tennessee went 7-10 in 2022, 6-11 in 2023, and 3-14 in 2024 and 2025.
He was also called one of the NFL’s top trade assets before the 2025 season as the Titans went in looking at a full-on rebuild with 2025 No. 1 overall pick and quarterback Cam Ward.
“Tennessee took Okonkwo in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and thanks to his freakish athleticism, there were heavy expectations for the University of Maryland product,” Sports Illustrated’s Matthew Schmidt wrote in April 2025. ” … Okonkwo is still just 25 years old, so he could also represent a potential trade candidate in the coming months, and he would certainly have some value. Maybe Tennessee is considering making sweeping changes as the (Cam) Ward era begins.”
Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine also listed Okonkwo as one of Tennessee’s top trade assets this offseason.
Okonkwo has been quietly productive and consistent over his first 4 seasons — and incredibly durable. In 4 seasons, Okonkwo has never missed a game — 68 consecutive regular-season games with 42 starts.
In 4 seasons, Okonkwo has 17-game averages of 48 receptions for 504 yards and 2 touchdowns. In 2025, he put up career highs in receptions (56), receiving yards (560), touchdowns (2), and starts (12).
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