Commanders’ early free agency blow leads to intriguing $30 million gamble

Day 1 of free agency for the Washington Commanders didn’t go as planned, as Adam Peters missed out on a number of top targets. Isaiah Likely was keen, but a price point couldn’t be agreed on. However, the general manager got his consolation prize relatively quickly.

The Commanders have signed Chigoziem Okonkwo, a 2022 fourth-round pick who spent his first four seasons with the Tennessee Titans. The University of Maryland product joins his college teammate, safety Nick Cross, in Washington.

Washington signed Okonkwo to a three-year deal reportedly worth $30 million. It’s a bit pricey for a tight end who has never amassed more than 600 receiving yards in a season and isn’t known as a blocker, but there’s reason to be optimistic.

Chig Okonkwo’s contract is risky, but the Commanders could be greatly rewarded

The Commanders’ tight end position was an intriguing one heading into the offseason, given Zach Ertz’s likely departure. Neither John Bates nor Ben Sinnott is a high-volume pass-catcher, so any player Washington signed would have an immediate opportunity to step into a featured role.

That player is Okonkwo, who is 26 and just accumulated a career-high 560 receiving yards in 2025. It’s worth noting that he was held back by poor quarterback play with the Tennessee Titans, so he could be better than his numbers show.

Okonkwo is a physical force who excels at picking up yards after the catch. If quarterback Jayden Daniels’ connection with Ertz was any indication, he’ll get the ball a lot.

The $10 million per year Washington is giving Okonkwo seems like a bit more than necessary — it’s the same deal the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave Cade Otton, who is slightly more accomplished. But Peters’ hand was forced after failing to reach a compromise with Likely, since the options beyond him were slim pickings.

If it wasn’t Okonkwo, it was probably David Njoku or Jonnu Smith. Both are aging and on the downside of their careers, and those are the types of signings the Commanders need to avoid. Instead, Washington gets a player with upside, who should spend his prime years with the organization.

In the best of worlds, Okonkwo can emerge as a Pro Bowl-level tight end in an offense where he’ll likely be one of the top three pass-catching options. His contract isn’t going to break the bank, and he’s never played with a quarterback as good as Daniels.

Okonkwo is a bit of a mystery, but he’s a risk the Commanders should be willing to take. Let’s see how it plays out.