When the Washington Commanders signed tight end Chig Okonkwo in free agency, it barely made headlines nationally compared to other high-profile transactions around the league. However, that doesn't detract from the significance of his arrival for the offense.
Jayden Daniels knows it, too.
Okonkwo is an athletic, dynamic pass-catching option who never quite fulfilled his potential with the Tennessee Titans. That wasn't exactly the most profitable environment in which to flourish, but the Commanders believe he's got the tools required to take things up a notch after Zach Ertz was not re-signed in free agency.
Jayden Daniels was thrilled that Commanders landed Chig Okonkwo in free agency
There was nobody more thrilled about Okonkwo's arrival than Daniels. He couldn't hide his excitement about what the former Maryland standout could bring to David Blough's concepts. And the signal-caller is confident his new teammate can excel with extra responsibilities on his shoulders.
"I was super excited we got Chig [Okonkwo]. Just how he plays, he plays fast. Everything's one hundred percent with him, so he's smart. He's been in this league for some time, and now he gets to go out there and show his talents on a bigger stage and a bigger role in the offense."
Blough's offense will need a tight end who can consistently get open, giving Daniels an easy outlet. Okonkwo's flashes in Tennessee dictate his capability. Now that he has a genuine franchise-caliber quarterback to work with, a legitimate breakout campaign is possible.
Okonkwo can take short completions for big gains. He's got the athleticism to get upfield quickly, which brings something different. For all Ertz's qualities as a dependable pass-catcher and red-zone threat, explosiveness was not prominent at such a late stage of his career.
This is all part of general manager Adam Peters' plan to get younger and faster this offseason. There was more focus on defensive reinforcements, but Okonkwo could be the most impactful offensive addition by a considerable margin. It's a lot to ask of someone who's never eclipsed 600 receiving yards in a season throughout his career, but this is easily the best situation he's ever had.
John Bates and Ben Sinnott will also have roles to play, especially in a blocking capacity, but there is no doubt that Okonkwo is the top dog. And based on Daniels' jubilant assessment, he'll be looking for his new weapon early and often when the regular season commences.
The sky is the limit for Okonkwo. If he can hit it off with Daniels, this has all the makings of a cornerstone pairing the Commanders can depend upon long term.
And that will also make his $27 million, three-year deal look like an absolute steal.
Add us as a preferred source on Google