The Washington Commanders spent the offseason trying to give Jayden Daniels a better hand to play with, and one of their more intriguing moves came at tight end. Chigozeim Okonkwo signed a three-year, $27 million deal, and early signs from training camp have started to turn heads.
Alex Kay of Bleacher Report went as far as to label Okonkwo a "steal" for Washington, pointing to the connection between the tight end and Daniels as a reason to expect a breakout. Kay wrote, "The Daniels-Okonkwo battery has already started making waves in training camp and should only improve in the coming weeks," adding, "As long as Daniels can stay healthy after an injury-plagued sophomore campaign, Okonkwo is a shoo-in to put up career-best marks in 2026."
Okonkwo is 26 and entered the league as a fourth-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in the 2022 NFL Draft. Now in Washington, he has a real chance to build on the most productive season of his career.
Last year, Okonkwo caught 56 passes on 79 targets for 560 yards, both career highs. He also found the end zone twice, just one touchdown shy of the three he scored as a rookie.
There has always been some upside with Okonkwo, but Tennessee never quite got the full breakout. Washington may be the place where it finally clicks. With Daniels at quarterback and a receiving group that includes Terry McLaurin, veteran Stefon Diggs and rookie Antonio Williams, Okonkwo could see plenty of opportunity.
For now, the contract is already drawing praise, and if Okonkwo delivers the kind of season Kay is forecasting, that $27 million price tag could end up looking like a bargain.
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Trevon Diggs is currently a free agent, which keeps the idea alive for a team that could use help at corner. The fit would make sense on paper because Washington is weighing experience and depth at a spot where every camp rep matters, but the real question is whether the Commanders decide to make a move before practices begin. [Read more 🡒]
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Theismanns case is built on more than nostalgia, since his career achievements still stand out in Washington lore and compare favorably with some of the names already marked by the organization. Even so, the debate around No. 7 has a way of reopening bigger questions about who gets permanence and why, especially for a team whose history includes both celebrated legends and a handful of unclear distinctions. The unanswered piece now is whether Washington ever decides that Theismann belongs in the same class as the numbers it has chosen to preserve. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Kicker Battle Could Swing On Drew Stevens This Week
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Stevens has handled himself well enough in practices to keep the battle interesting, while Moody brings the experience edge into a matchup that now shifts from camp fields to game action. The preseason is where Washington will try to sort out which leg it trusts most for the long haul, and every kick from here on out carries a little more weight than usual. [Read more 🡒]