Commanders’ overlooked weapon is going from undesirable to undeniable

Much of the hype surrounds high-profile signing Chig Okonkwo in the Washington Commanders' tight end room. He's the undisputed No. 1 option, but there will also be opportunities for others to get involved.

And one forgotten member of the squad is slowly going from undesirable to undeniable.

Colson Yankoff might not be a household name. He may still be on the fringes in Washington. Even so, there are growing signs that he is progressing enough to take on a greater role when the 2026 campaign arrives.

Colson Yankoff is staking a claim for stronger involvement with the Commanders

New offensive coordinator David Blough's scheme is set to feature tight ends heavily. There will be more usage of 13 personnel (three tight ends), which is becoming a growing trend around the league. To accomplish this successfully, the rookie play-caller needs several tight ends ready to make a difference.

Okonkwo will lead the charge. John Bates is an exceptional blocker who has flashed as a pass-catcher on occasion. All hope is not lost with 2024 second-round pick Ben Sinnott, who caught the eye of those in attendance at Washington's mandatory minicamp.

So did Yankoff.

The former UCLA star, who is now in his third season with the club, is leaving a positive mark. ESPN insider John Keim noted that the undrafted free agent has had a string of positive days, including a stunning one-handed grab during individual drills. Much more will be required to shake things up, but he's off to a good start.

Okonkwo, Bates, and Sinnott are roster locks. The Commanders took four tight ends onto the squad last season, and there is a good chance they will do the same in 2026. That puts Yankoff firmly in the driving seat, but Washington should give him a heavy workload during the preseason to see if his offseason form can be maintained in a typical game-day setting.

That could make or break his hopes.

While Yankoff stands a good chance of making the team, this is the time when he'll want more. Making the roster was the objective over the first two years, and he achieved this successfully. However, if he wants to be anything more than a special-teams ace, he needs to raise confidence in his capabilities.

And he's on the right track.

This is also a contract year for Yankoff. That is always enough to raise standards and maintain his current level of urgency. He's currently thriving under the pressure. If he keeps it up over the summer and takes advantage of opportunities in Washington's warm-up games, he could be a surprise that almost everyone around the NFL won't see coming.

That would be a win-win for everybody.

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