Receiving & Rushing Table Receiving Rushing Scrimmage Season Age Team Lg Pos G GS Tgt Rec Yds Y\/R TD 1D Succ% Lng R\/G Y\/G Ctch% Y\/Tgt Att Yds TD 1D Succ% Lng Y\/A Y\/G A\/G Touch Y\/Tch YScm RRTD Fmb AV Awards 2022<\/a> 23 TEN<\/a> NFL<\/a> TE 17 8 46 32 450 14.1 3 22 50.0 48 1.9 26.5 69.6 9.8 3 2 0 0 0.0 6 0.7 0.1 0.2 35 12.9 452 3 0 4 2023<\/a> 24 TEN<\/a> NFL<\/a> TE 17 11 77 54 528 9.8 1 25 48.1 39 3.2 31.1 70.1 6.9 2 6 0 1 50.0 4 3.0 0.4 0.1 56 9.5 534 1 0 5 2024<\/a> 25 TEN<\/a> NFL<\/a> TE 17 11 70 52 479 9.2 2 19 55.7 70 3.1 28.2 74.3 6.8 1 17 0 1 100.0 17 17.0 1.0 0.1 53 9.4 496 2 2 4 2025<\/a> 26 TEN<\/a> NFL<\/a> TE 17 12 79 56 560 10.0 2 24 45.6 43 3.3 32.9 70.9 7.1 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 56 10.0 560 2 0 4 4 Yrs 68 42 272 194 2017 10.4 8 90 49.6 70 2.9 29.7 71.3 7.4 6 25 0 2 33.3 17 4.2 0.4 0.1 200 10.2 2042 8 2 17 17 Game Avg 17 10 68 48 504 10.4 2 22 49.6 70 2.9 29.7 71.3 7.4 1 6 0 0 33.3 17 4.2 0.4 0.1 50 10.2 510 2 0 4 <\/p>\n Moreover, in his career, 1,105 of his 2,017 total receiving yards comprise YAC \u2014 yards after catch. Okonkwo shouldn\u2019t just be able to replace another potential Hall of Fame player, Zach Ertz; he\u2019s likely to be an upgrade to \u201cNo YAC Zach\u201d, who was adept at getting open and catching passes, but rarely added more than a yard or two after securing the ball. Chig should offer a lot of versatility to new offensive coordinator David Blough as he can line up as a traditional tight end, a big slot receiver or an H-back.<\/p>\n Like Oweh on the defensive side of the ball, Okonkwo is seen as an ascending player, whose best NFL seasons are ahead of him. His skill set is often described as a \u201cjumbo wide receiver\u201d rather than a traditional blocking tight end, making him a versatile weapon who can move around the offensive formation. Because of his speed and size, he is best used to challenge linebackers and safeties, creating mismatches in coverage.<\/p>\n In our second question ths week, we simply asked what the top draft need is, by position, for the Commanders, offerering a choice of 9 positions.<\/p>\n The top two answers were not surprising; 71% of respondents identified receiver and cornerback as the biggest needs for Washington, with about 4 out of 10 respondents choosing the offensive side of the ball and about 3 out of 10 opting for the defensive position.<\/p>\n Visit our partners at FanDuel<\/a><\/p>\n It speaks to how fans perceive the free agent class that edge rusher \u2014 seen as the team\u2019s greatest need before free agency began, secured only 6% of the vote in this survey.<\/p>\n The acquisition of Oweh, discussed above, and K\u2019Lavon Chaisson<\/a>, who signed a 1 year, $11m contract<\/a>, are seen as strong additions to the edge rusher group.<\/p>\n Also, with the expected scheme change, the interior pass rush and complex blitz packages are likely to be more critical and more effective than they were under former defensive coordinator Joe Whitt. So, the additions of Chenal at LB and the versatile Charles Omenihu<\/a> along with Tim Settle<\/a> along with returning players like Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw and Johnny Newton become part of the calculus in weighing up positional need, and deciding that edge rusher is now well down the list.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s be clear: this is not a referendum on which position should be filled with the 7th pick in the draft. GM Adam Peters has raised the floor enough on every position group that he should be free to take the best player available when it is the Commanders turn to pick. If that player is an edge rusher, the current roster makeup shouldn\u2019t deter Peters from making that selection and adding youth and elite potential to the group, and there are several possibilities for edge guys that could be picked in the top-10.<\/p>\n Saftey & off-the-ball linebacker<\/p>\n Likewise, the safety and LB groups can be strengthened in the draft if an elite player like Caleb Downs or Sonny Styles is available when Washington is on the clock. However, the signing of Nick Cross<\/a> and Leo Chenal<\/a> in March took a little of the heat out of these two potential positions of need in Apriil\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n One of the obvious needs on the depth chart is at center. The reason it polled as low as it did is that fans seemed resigned to the idea that, if there\u2019s no better option by training camp, Nick Allegretti<\/a> is probably \u2018good enough\u2019, especially if Washington uses a Day 3 draft pick to add a rookie who can compete with and develop alongside of Allegretti.<\/p>\n John Keim and others have reported repeatedly that Washington pursued Tyler Linderbaum, but were simply out-bid by the Raiders, who had the cap space and the will to pay the veteran center whatever it took to secure his services.<\/p>\n At this point, there are perhaps 9 veteran centers available in free agency, including former Commanders 2023 3rd round draft pick, Ricky Stromberg, who has only 23 career NFL snaps, all of them with the Commanders in 2023. Thank you again, Ron Rivera.<\/p>\n Most of the available free agent veteran centers are mere backups, but two names stood out to me \u2014 both, however, come with significant issues.<\/p>\n Ethan Pocic is 31 years old and has 97 career starts with the Seahawks (5 seasons) and Browns (4 sasons). He tore his Achilles tendon in December. The most optimistic timeline would probably see him return to play around the start of the \u201826 season, probably spending the entire offseason on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. It seems more likely that he won\u2019t actually be ready until later in the season \u2014 if he ever recovers at all.<\/p>\n The other veteran free agent who has significant starting experience is Andre James, who started 59 games for the Raiders from 2021 to 2024. He was cut by the Raiders at the end of the \u201824 season when Las Vegas replaced both GM and head coach.<\/p>\n James had missed several games in \u201824 with an ankle injury; his release was driven by injury, performance and cap savings. James spent the entire \u201825 season backing up Bradley Bozeman, who abruptly retired from the NFL in late February. It seems significant that the Chargers signed last year\u2019s Commanders starter, Tyler Biadasz, to a $10m\/yr contract while not extending James.<\/p>\n The hole at wide receiver \u2014 the need that was identified by the most respondents \u2014 is obvious. The Commanders need a versatile playmaker to line up opposite Terry McLaurin \u2014 ideally a player with both size and speed who is young enough to develop and \u2018replace\u2019 McLaurin\u2019s ability and leadership when time inevitably takes Scary Terry off the roster.<\/p>\n I suspect every regular reader of Hogs Haven is well aware of the complex circumstances that surround the situation with 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk<\/a>.<\/p>\n Whether the Commanders eventually sign Aiyuk or not, they likely need to grab a talented receiver in the draft, with the player most often discussed as a 1st round possibility being Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate<\/a>.<\/p>\n As with the center position, John Keim and others reported that the Commanders had strong interest in Alec Pierce, who never actually reached free agency, re-signing with the Colts just before the start of the new year. Likewise, it was reported that Adam Peters pursued Romeo Doubs, but the receiver eventually decided to sign with the Patriots.<\/p>\n Having failed to secure a top free agent, the Washington front office opted to raise the floor a bit by bringing back former Washington receiver Dyami Bown<\/a>, who spent the \u201824 season in Jacksonville, and journeyman receiver Van Jefferson<\/a>, who spent 2024 with the Titans. Earlier in the offseason, Washington inked Treylon Burks<\/a> to an extension. With these players, Terry McLaurin, Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane, the team has depth at WR \u2014 which is supplemented somewhat by the skills of TE Chig Okonkwo and RB Rachaad White \u2014 but the Commanders absolutely need another immediate talent in the room with long-term potential.<\/p>\n The cornerback group got a bit of reinforcement late this week when Ahkello Witherspoon was signed<\/a> as the Commanders most recent free agent addition. Most respondents to our survey answered before his signing was reported, but I doubt if his addition would have changed any minds. Witherspoon is on a one-year contract that is almost certainly for minimum dollars.<\/p>\n Like the receivers mentioned above, the signing of Witherspoon helps establish the floor for the CB group and adds to the depth, but with Marshon Lattimore never having panned out as the valuable addition Adam Peters hoped he would be when the Commanders traded for him, the defense needs a talented corner to line up opposite Trey Amos.<\/p>\n With Mikey Sainristil returning and Amik Robertson<\/a> added in free agency, Washington should be set with versatile slot corners, but a long corner with good skills would be a welcome addition. The player most often discussed in relation to the 7th overall pick is Monsoor Delane<\/a>, but it\u2019s possible that the Commanders could end up with a player like Malik Muhammad or Chris Johnson<\/a> in the 3rd round if they use the 7th overall pick at another position.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/temp-reacts-2.jpg\"\/)
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