Hogs Haven
Editor’s note: Each day, Hogs Haven compiles a collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, with a sprinkling of other stuff. Enjoy!
Sports Illustrated
When Zach Ertz went down in Week 14 last season after taking a hit to his right knee, fans’ worst fears were confirmed almost immediately. A Washington Commanders campaign that was already tainted by a relentless slew of injuries added another notable name to the IR in their veteran tight end, who’d see his second straight season with at least 50 receptions prematurely end at the hands of a torn ACL.
The loss of his presence as star quarterback Jayden Daniels’ most comfortable go-to short-area target was stark over the last four weeks of the disappointing winter, especially when his understudies were unable to fill the pass-catching vacuum he’d left behind. As helpful as John Bates’ blocking was, and with as much as third-stringer Ben Sinnott stands to prove, Washington’s front office readied for a pressure-filled offseason where they’d have to find someone to balance out the Commanders’ offense.
Enter Chig Okonkwo. The former University of Maryland standout is on the move for the first time since getting drafted by the Tennessee Titans four years ago, and as a free-agent addition, he’ll step right into Ertz’s former role as the top receiving option within the positional depth chart.
His impact will stretch well beyond what he’s able to do at the individual level as one of Daniels’ newest targets; with Okonkwo’s added flavor, the returning supplementary contributors at tight end have the chance to surge in settling into their own niches.
While Okonkwo left a few of his most ardent believers disappointed with his inability to look like a star next to Tennessee’s No. 1 drafted quarterback in Cam Ward, especially given the rookie’s usual willingness to lean on hitting checkdown targets, he did what Ertz couldn’t in making plays happen after the catch. His 6.1 yards after the catch per reception in 2025 were his most since his rookie season, and he did that while setting career highs in targets (79) and receptions (56).
The physical 26-year-old is much more dynamic than your average replacement-level, catch-first tight end. He should be able to hold his own on the blocking end and stands to thrive in space as one of Daniels’ top receiving options behind Terry McLaurin.
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NOTUS.com
For all the chatter about the Commanders needing another receiver ahead of training camp, it seems pretty clear they’re rolling with what they currently have. Which means someone has to line up opposite McLaurin, and it would...
