Titans Can’t Afford to Let Chig Okonkwo Walk - Not with This Many Roster Holes
When a new general manager takes over an NFL team, early missteps are part of the learning curve. For Mike Borgonzi and the Tennessee Titans, that learning curve has already come with some costly lessons. Now, heading into a critical offseason, the priority has to be avoiding repeat mistakes - especially when it comes to letting productive players walk out the door.
Let’s rewind a bit. The Titans were sitting on $108 million in cap space last offseason - a war chest by NFL standards.
And yet, instead of using that to build around the few strong pieces they had, they created more problems. Borgonzi cut ties with cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who’s now thriving in Baltimore and ranks fifth out of 121 cornerbacks in PFF’s coverage grades.
That kind of production would’ve been a welcome sight in a Tennessee secondary that’s been patching things together with waiver claims.
Then there’s Harold Landry - a fan favorite and one of the best pass rushers in franchise history. He’s now suiting up for the Patriots and on pace for another double-digit sack season. Meanwhile, the Titans are staring down a 2026 season with no starting EDGE rushers under contract and hoping Femi Oladejo can develop into something more than just a rotational piece.
These weren’t aging veterans on the decline. These were productive players, still in their prime, let go in the name of flexibility. That’s the kind of roster management that digs holes faster than you can fill them.
Titans’ 2026 Needs Are Staggering
Let’s take stock of what the Titans are facing heading into 2026. These aren’t luxury upgrades - these are basic needs just to field a competitive NFL roster:
- One offensive lineman (right guard)
- Two wide receivers (if Calvin Ridley is cut)
- One running back (if Tony Pollard is cut)
- Two, possibly three, EDGE defenders
- Two cornerbacks (if L’Jarius Sneed is cut)
That’s eight starting-caliber players needed - and that’s just to plug the leaks. It doesn’t include depth.
It doesn’t account for injuries. It’s the bare minimum.
Which brings us to Chig Okonkwo - and why re-signing him should be one of the easiest decisions this front office makes.
Chig Okonkwo: Durable, Productive, and Still Developing
At this point in his career, we know what Okonkwo is - and more importantly, what he isn’t. He’s not your classic in-line tight end who’s going to bulldoze defenders in the run game. He’s a big-bodied, athletic receiver who just happens to wear a tight end jersey.
And there’s real value in that.
Okonkwo has played in all 63 possible games since being drafted in 2022. That kind of availability is rare, especially at a position as physically demanding as tight end. He’s also on pace to top 2,000 receiving yards by the end of his rookie deal - a benchmark that puts him in elite company among tight ends under 30.
To put that in perspective, the list of tight ends on pace for 2,000+ yards over the same span includes names like T.J. Hockenson, Trey McBride, Sam LaPorta, and Kyle Pitts.
These are cornerstone players for their franchises. Okonkwo might not be a household name nationally, but his production stacks up.
Through 13 games this season, he leads the Titans in receptions and receiving yards. And this isn’t just a case of check-downs padding the stats.
Okonkwo has caught five of Cam Ward’s 28 explosive passes (18%), second only to Calvin Ridley’s seven (25%). He also owns the team’s second-longest reception of the season (39 yards) and ranks second in first-down receptions.
Nationally, he’s outgaining some big names - Dallas Goedert, T.J. Hockenson, Evan Engram, Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Pat Freiermuth, and Jonnu Smith - while averaging more yards per catch than high-volume tight ends like Zach Ertz, Dalton Schultz, and Jake Ferguson.
Don’t Overthink This - Keep Your Good Players
The Titans can’t afford to fall into the trap of chasing the mythical “great” player at the expense of proven, productive talent. That strategy has burned them before - and with the roster in its current state, it’s not a gamble they can afford to take again.
Re-signing Okonkwo doesn’t mean you stop looking to improve the position. It just means you don’t create another hole while trying to fill others.
If Gunnar Helm continues to develop as a true in-line tight end - he’s already showing promise as a blocker - then great. Let him handle the dirty work, and let Okonkwo do what he does best: stretch the field and create mismatches.
And if you somehow stumble upon a tight end who’s even better than Okonkwo? That’s a good problem to have.
In that case, Okonkwo becomes a valuable trade asset - a young, durable, productive player on a reasonable contract. That’s the kind of asset smart GMs covet.
A Smart Use of Cap Space
The Titans are projected to have over $100 million in cap space again this offseason. There’s no reason not to spend a small portion of that to keep a player like Okonkwo in the fold. He’s not going to break the bank, and his presence gives the offense a reliable weapon who already has chemistry with the quarterback.
This isn’t about sentimentality. It’s about smart roster building. You don’t cut or let walk one of the few players who’s consistently shown up, stayed healthy, and produced - especially not when you’re already scrambling to fill half your starting lineup.
Okonkwo may not be a complete tight end, but he’s a complete offensive weapon. And right now, the Titans need as many of those as they can get.
Bottom line: Don’t make another mistake. Keep Chig Okonkwo.