Most of Adam Peters' focus during the early stages of the NFL's legal tampering centered on the defensive side of the football. He took some big swings on two wide receivers to no avail, but the Washington Commanders were at least trying to be aggressive in pursuit of improving the supporting case around star quarterback Jayden Daniels.
A signing was coming. And the first one represented another splash with significant upside attached.
According to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, the Commanders have agreed to terms with tight end Chig Okonkwo on a three-year deal. He was widely considered to be the best option at the position available on the market, and Peters struck with supreme conviction to get him into the fold.
Commanders make first offensive splash with Chig Okonkwo coup
Okonkwo is an athletic, big-bodied tight end with the scope to be a mismatch in coverage if schemed effectively. He's a solid possession option with the scope to break off big yardage in open space. And this is precisely what the Commanders need to take things up a notch offensively under coordinator David Blough.
Having a good tight end changes everything. Zach Ertz's presence as a rookie helped the Commanders' signal-caller excel. With the Pro Bowler out of contract and recovering from a torn ACL, the time to get younger and more dynamic had inevitably arrived.
Much more is required, of course. But in Okonkwo, they have an ascending pass-catching presence who isn't afraid to mix things up as a blocker. The player is also no stranger to the area, having played his college football at Maryland.
It was a slow start to legal tampering for the Commanders, but Peters is starting to find his groove now. Fans were becoming restless after reports surfaced that they had missed out on some bigger names. Now, things are looking far more optimistic.
Okonkwo seems like a great fit for the scheme. It's not hard to see why the Commanders were so enamored with his potential within Blough's scheme. And at 26, there is plenty of scope for further improvements as a legitimate focal point and a more consistent quarterback throwing him the football.
This seems like a win-win for everybody. Hopefully, this is just the start of things to come as the Commanders look to maximize Daniels' rookie contract window.