Chig Okonkwo's decision to join the Washington Commanders in free agency brings significant intrigue. The offense needed a dependable pass-catching tight end to fill the void left by Pro Bowl veteran Zach Ertz. He ticks that box with more long-term upside for good measure.
For all of Okonkwo's strengths, and he has a ton of them, critics always point to one thing that holds him back. It'll come as no surprise to fans that this supposed weakness centers on his blocking, which prevents him from being touted as a complete package by experts.
However, former Washington tight end Logan Paulsen watched plenty of tape on Okonkwo after the signing was confirmed. And the player-turned-analyst didn't hold the same opinion.
Logan Paulsen believes Chig Okonkwo's blocking can actually help the Commanders
Paulsen commented on how impressed he was with the Maryland product's performance in the run game. He believes Okonkwo is matchup dependent, but the aggression with which he goes about his business in this discipline represents a solid foundation from which to build.
"The thing that kept me watching play after play with him is how aggressive he was in the run game. People say he can't block; an important part of run blocking is matchup. But when you're looking at the fundamentals of blocking, Chig's pretty good in these areas i if you get him in a favorable matchup."
The Commanders are unlikely to task Okonkwo with many blocking duties. Offensive coordinator David Blough has one of the league's best blocking tight ends in John Bates, who remains an integral part of the team's plans. Ben Sinnott has also flashed more as a blocker than a pass-catcher, which should enable Washington to flex their new signing almost anywhere along the line of scrimmage to exploit mismatches in the passing game.
When the time comes for Okonkwo to block, he's more than willing. You can't be a successful tight end without some semblance of blocking capabilities, so fans don't have that much to worry about.
General manager Adam Peters saw something in Okonkwo. The Commanders gave him a three-year, $30 million contract to seal the deal, which indicates how confident they are in his abilities. This is also a welcome move for the player, who is eager to prove his worth as a focal point rather than being restricted during his time with the Tennessee Titans.
If Okonkwo has to block, he will. Paulsen also believes he will do it well.
However, everyone knows that won't be Okonkwo's primary objective during what is hopefully a successful stint in Washington.