When the Washington Commanders run two-tight-end sets in 2026, veteran John Bates figures to be the in-line, blocking half of the duo. But who will flex out and serve as an option for quarterback Jayden Daniels, especially when no one is open deep?

It might end up being Zach Ertz, who has played this role for the past two seasons in Washington. It looked as if the 13-year veteran had reached the end of his illustrious career when he tore his ACL late last season. But he wants to continue, and general manager Adam Peters has not ruled out his return.

Perhaps Peters and head coach Dan Quinn want to clear the way for Ben Sinnott, chosen in the second round of the 2024 draft, to sink or swim as the Commanders’ top flex tight end. Or maybe they have their eye on someone in the draft like Kenyon Sadiq or Eli Stowers, both of whom would make sense if the Commanders trade back in the first round.

Or maybe there’s a free agent. Washington has been linked to Baltimore’s Isaiah Likely for some time now.

Commanders could strike gold with Chig Okonkwo bid in free agency

Now, Commanders analyst Logan Paulsen has thrown another free agent name onto the table for consideration. Chig Okonkwo might be the perfect under-the-radar option.

Paulsen knows the NFL and the Commanders very well. And he certainly understands the tight end position. He played that role in Washington for more than half of his eight-year career. He sees Okonkwo as an even better fit than Likely despite the Ravens’ player’s emergence of late.

Okonkwo and Likely entered the league in 2022, both in the fourth round. The former actually has better career numbers across the board — more catches, receiving yards, touchdowns, and first downs. The only area where the latter has been better is in yards per catch.

Still, Okonkwo has never gotten any real attention across the league. Paulsen attributes that to where he has played. The Tennessee Titans have had among the least dynamic offenses in the NFL over the past four seasons.

The Maryland product arrived at the tail end of the Ryan Tannehill experience in Nashville. He then played for a couple of years with Will Levis before the Titans drafted Cam Ward last season. That’s a veteran at the end of his career and a couple of inexperienced rookies. None of their pass catchers has flourished of late. Just ask Treylon Burks.

Okonkwo has all the physical tools to become a quality receiving tight end. He has excellent speed for the position, runs good routes, and has dependable hands. He just needs a good quarterback and a creative coordinator to unlock that potential.

He also has experience lining up as a wing and a traditional fullback, which David Blough may want to employ. Okonkwo has never been known for his blocking, but he is not a liability either.

It may be difficult to project an accurate salary range for Okonkwo, but he is generally lumped in with Likely and Cade Otton — two other promising tight ends who are finishing their rookie deals this year. The predicted market value is $7.96 million per season on a three-year, $23.89 million deal.

This all comes down to a question of fit. With Okonkwo’s ability to make plays in the passing game as well as his potential to play fullback, that fit might be right in Washington. Plus, his connection to the area through his college days shouldn’t hurt.

In the end, this becomes a referendum on Sinnott. If Peters, Quinn, and Blough really believe he is ready to step into the role they foresaw when he became the No. 53 pick in 2024, then it doesn’t make much sense to invest in a very similar player.

But if they still have questions about the former Kansas State star, then Okonkwo could be a very smart low-key pickup to try and make up for Ertz’s possible departure.