Despite some struggles this year, Chig Okonkwo remains one of the most productive tight ends from the 2022 NFL draft class.
Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo has had an up-and-down sophomore season.
Chig had some rough outings earlier in the year that were littered with uncharacteristic and unacceptable drops. However, over the last few weeks, Okonkwo has started to show glimpses of still being the electric playmaker we all saw throughout his rookie season.
Despite his early struggles, the Titans tight end is still putting up some of the best numbers in comparison to the other 19 players at his position who were selected in the 2022 NFL draft.
The Maryland product enters Week 16 ranked second among second-year tight ends with 845 career receiving yards, fourth with 75 receptions, and tied for second with 40 receiving first downs.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride is the only second-year tight end who has totaled more yards and first downs than Okonkwo has thus far.
One area where the former fourth-round pick leads all second-year tight ends is yards per reception (11.3). Chig not only leads all qualifying tight ends in his draft class but also ranks seventh among all NFL tight ends since the beginning of the 2022 campaign.
While this may not have been the dominant second season many of us projected for the Titans’ young pass-catcher, there are still plenty of reasons to be optimistic about his long-term potential.
Several players have had impressive rookie campaigns before suffering a sophomore slump, only to break out in Year 3. Time will tell if that’s the type of trajectory Okonkwo is on, but there’s no denying he has the talent to do so.
The Tennessee Titans returned to the practice field on Monday for their first session since preseason Week 3. The session comes just one day before Tennessee has to make its final cuts.
The deadline to do so is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, but the Titans have already begun that process with nine total roster cuts. You can check out all of the latest moves in our tracker right here.
Head coach Mike Vrabel and players spoke to the media on Monday before practice, which also provided updates on injured players, including wide receivers Treylon Burks and Kyle Philips, outside linebacker Arden Key, quarterback Will Levis, tight end Chig Okonkwo and offensive linemen Jaelyn Duncan and Dillon Radunz.
Titans TE Chig Okonkwo has been studying other top tight ends, including Delanie Walker.
Following a promising rookie season that saw Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo go from a relatively unknown mid-round pick to arguably the team’s most promising young player, many believe the second-year tight end is on the cusp of a true breakout season in 2023.
The Maryland product led all rookie tight ends in receiving yards (450), touchdowns (three), and overall grade (75.4, PFF), while also being among the most efficient players among pass-catchers, regardless of experience.
This year, Okonkwo hopes to take that next step in his development, and his position coach, Tony Dews, has apparently been showing him tape of stars all around the league, including George Kittle and Mark Andrews.
However, it’s been a former franchise legend who many compare his overall potential to that Chig has been watching the most.
Delanie Walker, at his peak, was every bit of a star for the Titans and was often the No. 1 passing threat for the entire offense, while also being a true tone-setter in the run game with his blocking.
When asked about the main takeaways from his film study, Okonkwo said it was the realization that there are several different ways to win a rep, and just because something works for one tight end doesn’t mean it will work for him, and vice versa.
#Titans TE Chig Okonkwo said TE coach Tony Dews has shown him cutups of other TEs including Delanie Walker, Mark Andrews, George Kittle. pic.twitter.com/jQght4ZxWG
Okonkwo added that he believes his biggest strength in that particular area is his explosiveness, which helps him to get off the ball quickly so he can establish his leverage.
While No. 85 took the modest approach when discussing his game, All-Pro safety Kevin Byard praised the Titans tight end for the way he carries himself, both on the field and in the locker room.
Byard mentioned how he “likes the way he works every single day” toward refining his craft as the two constantly remain in communication with each other to discuss ways to make themselves better.
Kevin Byard on jump expected from Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo in his second season: pic.twitter.com/BwyIt1RQQg
Chig now hopes to translate everything he’s learned over the last year to help him build off a strong rookie season that saw him finish (among tight ends):
Titans head coach Mike Vrabel recently explained how TE Chig Okonkwo can improve as a blocker.
We are all fully aware of the sky’s-the-limit potential Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo has in terms of playmaking ability, but that’s just one part of being a tight end in the NFL.
The other, of course, is blocking, something Chig will undoubtedly be called upon to do, even though he’s set to be one of the top-three weapons in the Titans’ offense in 2023.
On that front, head coach Mike Vrabel explained that while Okonkwo is “willing”, he must improve his technique, and namely his hand placement.
“I think the biggest thing for Chig is going to continue to be his hand placement,” Vrabel said, per Easton Freeze of Broadway Sports. “I don’t think we’re going to make him any bigger; he’s not going to be a 260-pound player. But I think we have to just continue to focus on his hands and making sure that they’re inside, that they’re strong and they’re powerful. First play today, you’re not going to be able to sustain against Arden [Key] or any player with your hands outside, you just don’t have enough power. He’s willing, I just think the technique has to improve.”
Okonkwo’s No. 1 job is no doubt making plays through the air, but having him on the field even when the play isn’t drawn up to him is also a great asset, as he’s someone defenses must account for whenever he lines up.
If he can’t prove to at least be a reliable blocker, that could limit his snaps, which in turn makes things a bit easier on opposing defenses.
Another day, another outlet predicting a breakout season for Titans TE Chigoziem Okonkwo.
Tennessee Titans tight end, Chigoziem Okonkwo, has rightly received a ton of hype heading into his second year in the league.
Anybody who actually took the time to watch the Titans play last year saw just how scary good Okonkwo could be.
Despite being limited to a complementary role for most of his rookie season, it seemed like the Maryland product did something that made you say “wow” at least once per game.
Following a season in which he led all of the rookie tight ends in yards and touchdowns, while also being one of the most efficient players at his position in general, Chig’s confidence appears to be through the roof, even going as far as saying that he’s aiming for 100 catch season in 2023.
Chiggy Okonkwo among 47 qualified TE in 2022 (PFF)
PFF receiving grade: 84.6 (No. 2) Yards per route run: 2.61 (No. 1) Yards per reception: 14 (No. 1) YAC per reception: 7.8 (tied for No. 2) Targets per route run: 26.2% (No. 2) Passer rating when targeted: 125.1 (No. 7)
When you consider all of that, it’s easy to understand why Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report named Okonkwo as one of the five tight ends who are on the verge of a breakout campaign.
Okonkwo noticeably ended the year on a high note once it became obvious that he needed to be on the field more than Austin Hooper.
The rookie tight end accumulated at least four targets in six of the team’s final seven games, subsequently leading to a minimum of 40 receiving yards on four of those occasions.
Here is what Okonkwo recently said when he was asked about the possibility of him taking another major step forward in his development this year:
“Going into Year 2, I really feel like it’s going to be a huge year for me, a huge leap,” Okonkwo said. “I’m so confident going into it. I know what to expect. I know I can take my game to the highest level. Year 2 for me, I’m just really excited. All of the stuff I’ve been doing now. Building on the tools and my weaknesses, working on those, and refining them. I can’t wait to get on the field and show myself. I feel like I’m really under the radar. I feel like I’m one of the top tight ends in the league. I can’t wait to put that on display and show everybody.”
Only time will tell how Okonkwo’s sophomore season in the NFL turns out, but if he’s able to build on the success he had in 2022 now that he is taking on a bigger role, it’s hard to argue against the fact that Chig may universally be considered a top 10 to 15 tight end at worst by the end of the year.
The last time the Titans had an effective trio of pass-catchers, it made Derrick Henry’s life much easier.
After the disastrous ending to the Tennessee Titans’ 2022 campaign, a lot of people are already writing the team off despite all of the notable offseason additions Tennessee made (DeAndre Hopkins, Andre Dillard, Arden Key, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Daniel Brunskill, Azeez Al-Shaair).
What those people clearly don’t realize is how much they’re completely downplaying the potential of the Titans’ offense should everything play out the way they hope from a health and production standpoint.
The last time the Titans had a top wide receiver tandem and an explosive tight end on the roster (2020), Derrick Henry rushed for over 2,000 yards.
Uncoincidentally, Henry saw the lowest stacked-box percentage of his career that year. Back in 2020, Henry only faced eight or more defenders in the box on 27.78 percent of his carries.
Derrick Henry’s stacked box percentages from 2020-2022, per Next Gen Stats
Compare that to last season, when he faced the highest stacked-box percentage of his career (38.11 percent), mostly due to the fact that he was stuck playing with an inadequate play-caller/designer, three different quarterbacks, a depleted offensive line, and zero consistency out wide.
Teams were committed to doing everything possible to limit Henry’s impact in order to force someone else to beat them, which proved to be a winning strategy.
To add some perspective to just how many loaded defensive fronts The King lined up across from last year, here is how frequently some of the other top running backs faced stacked boxes in 2022:
Christian McCaffery (SF): 34.84 percent
Nick Chubb (CLE): 28.81 percent
Najee Harris (PIT): 25.37 percent
Tony Pollard (DAL): 22.28 percent
Josh Jacobs (LV): 20.59 percent
Saquon Barkley (NYG): 18.98 percent
Dalvin Cook (MIN): 18.94 percent
Austin Ekeler (LAC): 17.16 percent
Jonathan Taylor (IND): 14.06 percent
Aaron Jones (GB): 10.8 percent
*All percentages in the article were collected from Next Gen Stats*
Adding to the main point, three seasons ago, A.J. Brown, Corey Davis, and Jonnu Smith combined for 2,599 receiving yards and 26 total touchdowns (including playoffs) between the three of them.
What Tennessee seemingly mastered that year was its ability to constantly force opposing defenses into disadvantageous positions where they had to pick and choose who to help defend.
The real headache for the opposition came once they inevitably limited one guy’s impact, only for Tennessee to then lean on at least one of the other three playmakers who were all capable of taking over in their own right.
Personally, I don’t think the 2023 offense will be as productive as the 2020 group, but I emphatically believe it can be just as lethal and problematic if everything goes according to plan (Treylon Burks and Chig Okonkwo both break out, DeAndre Hopkins is still DHop, health, etc.)
Truthfully, the offensive line is the true wild card of the entire offense. There really is no telling how that group will gel, but for everybody’s sake, let’s hope they’re at least good enough in 2023.
Otherwise, regardless of how talented Tennessee’s top skill players undeniably are, the team’s ceiling will be limited if the group upfront doesn’t find a way to get back on track in the trenches.
Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo has a good amount of hype heading into the 2023 season.
The excitement surrounding the Maryland product is definitely warranted after Okonkwo not only led all rookie tight ends in a handful of categories, but was also among the most efficient players at his position.
According to Pro Football Focus, Okonkwo ranked in the top seven (out of 47 qualified) in the following categories:
That type of production is undoubtedly a large reason why Jim Wyman of Pro Football Focus recently named Okonkwo to his “All-Breakout Team”, stating the following about the young tight end’s selection:
Okonkwo was a relative unknown to the casual fan when he was selected with the 143rd pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He’s a bit undersized for the tight end position at 6-foot-3 and 238 pounds, but he’s a crazy athlete, as he ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash and recorded a 35.5-inch vertical. As the season went along, he managed to take over the starting TE role for the Titans and made some big plays down the stretch, earning 75.0-plus receiving grades in five of the last six games of the Titans’ season. While Tennessee faltered down the stretch, Okonkwo did not, and he’s primed for a breakout 2023 with an added workload.
It’s hard to argue with this selection in any sort of way.
Chig is one of those budding stars who undeniably passes the eye test when you watch him, while also passing the analytics and production aspect of his evaluation when you dive into his numbers.
All of this becomes even more impressive when you realize Okonkwo did that while playing with the combination of three different quarterbacks, an outdated scheme, and with his partner in crime, wideout Treylon Burks, missing almost half the season.
The sky truly is the limit for the Titans’ second-year tight end, barring an injury-riddled season to himself and/or the surrounding pieces on offense.
Tennessee Titans second-year tight end, Chig Okonkwo, may be one of the best-kept secrets in all of football.
Whenever you hear national media outlets or non-Titans fans discussing the best young tight ends in the league, you hardly hear the Maryland product’s name being brought up.
Despite not having the national recognition as of yet, Okonkwo consistently showed signs of a budding star every single time he stepped on the field, at least from Week 9 on.
He led all rookie tight ends in receiving yards (450) and touchdowns (three), even though he was relegated to a limited role for much of the first eight weeks.
John Kosko of PFF had the Titans’ tight end in his third tier, coming in at No. 13 overall. Kosko stated the following in regards to Okonkwo’a ranking:
We want to see Okonkwo receive an expanded role to show what he can do with more targets because what he did on 48 targets as a rookie in 2022 was spectacular.
He led all tight ends in yards per route run (2.61) and ranked third in receiving grade at 84.6. His ranking on the list might be generous but in a league that’s searching for young talent at the position, Okonkwo has the ability to become a difference-maker at the position.
Okonkwo is one of the few young players in the league who undoubtedly passes the film, analytics, and production test.
Even the parts of his game that weren’t necessarily a strength of his got better as time went on. For example, Chig’s blocking was considered one of his glaring weaknesses throughout the pre-draft process.
However, that part of his game steadily improved as well. According to PFF, the former Terp only allowed one blown block on the year.
Nevertheless, there’s no denying that it’s Okonkwo’s abilities as a pass-catcher that truly make him special.
To put his eye-opening production into better perspective, over the last five years, Okonkwo is one of five players who produced a season where they accounted for more than:
0.35 EPA/target
7.9 YAC/reception
30 receptions
The other four players to accomplish this feat were: Ja’Marr Chase (2021), Deebo Samuel (2021), A.J. Brown (2019), and George Kittle (2018).
If the Maryland product can replicate and/or surpass this type of production in Year 2, it’s safe to say we’ll see the Titans’ tight ranked much higher on next year’s list.
It’s no secret that the Tennessee Titans aren’t exactly stacked with an arsenal of weapons on the offensive side of the ball ahead of the 2023 campaign. In fact, it’s safe to say that Tennessee’s wide receivers room is universally considered a bottom-five group as currently constructed.
Tennessee will be relying heavily on Treylon Burks, but an injury and/or disappointing season from the second-year pro will amount to a disastrous campaign at the position once again.
Most people expect Burks to take a big step forward in Year 2, but even if he’s phenomenal he’s still going to need a worthy sidekick out wide who is at least capable of occasionally relieving him from carrying the entire load.
Taking everything into account with Tennessee’s offense as a whole, it’s not a real surprise that fantasy football experts aren’t high on the Titans going into 2023.
An example of this comes from ESPN’s Field Yates, who ranked just one Titan — running back Derrick Henry — on his top-100 PPR rankings for next season.
Henry, who figures to once again be heavily featured in a Titans offense that should revolve around his skillset, came in as the No. 13 overall player and No. 7 overall running back on Yates’ list.
One can make an argument that budding young stars such as Burks and Chig Okonkwo should crack the list.
But at the end of the day, there are way too many variables and unknowns within this offense to give anybody but Henry the full benefit of the doubt, especially when it comes to fantasy football.
