One notable addition is former Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo, who signed a three-year, $30 million contract in early March. His arrival is expected to impact the team’s tight end depth, and it raises questions about whether fan favorite Zach Ertz will return.
Ertz, who signed a two-year deal with Washington in 2024, was instrumental in Daniels’ development and posted 66 catches for 654 yards with seven touchdowns in 2024. He suffered a gruesome ACL injury in Week 14 of the following season and, at 35, has expressed a desire to continue playing, albeit with pressure to prove he can still perform at a high level.
Despite Ertz’s optimism, he acknowledged that his market value may be limited by age and the ACL injury. Washington previously indicated they were open to a reunion, even discussing his recovery progress, but that stance may have shifted with the addition of Okonkwo and the team’s trend toward younger talent after fielding the oldest roster in over a decade.
Washington’s planning suggests a potential mentor role for Ertz could still be possible if he remains unsigned closer to the season, but the emphasis appears to be on developing Okonkwo into the primary tight end option. For Ertz, the path forward may depend on opportunities that arise as training camps approach and teams weigh their long-term tight end needs.
Overall, the Commanders’ offseason moves reflect a balancing act between maintaining leadership stability and accelerating roster turnover to support a younger core, with tight end usage and depth likely to be a focal point as the season approaches.
