The Tennessee Titans did some good things offensively in Sunday’s 34-26 Week 17 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward had his fourth straight multi-TD passing game. Ward’s first score
went to tight end Chig Okonkwo on quite the individual effort.
Titans interim head coach Mike McCoy got aggressive. Faced with a 4th-and-2 in no man’s land, McCoy quickly kept the Titans offense on the field. Ward had a play-action fake with Okonkwo leaking off the line of scrimmage in a block-and-release concept. Okonkwo came free across the defense for an easy chain-moving catch. The former Maryland standout rumbled down the field in open space, threw a defender off his back and crossed the goal-line for an incredible touchdown.
It was Okonkwo’s second straight showing with a passing TD from Ward. Okonkwo now leads the Titans in receptions (54) and receiving yards (558). The 2022 fourth-round selection has already set career highs in both categories.
Okonkwo is on an expiring contract. GM Mike Borgonzi inherited him from two regimes ago as it was Jon Robinson who drafted the athletic tight end. Meanwhile Borgonzi drafted tight end Gunnar Helm in the fourth round this past offseason. Helm has shown flashes of being a starting-caliber player.
Nonetheless, the Titans should strongly consider re-signing Okonkwo. His shortcomings as a blocker are offset by his athletic ability as a pass catcher. Ward and Okonkwo have begun showing real chemistry. Wards trusts him to make plays.
Okonkwo and Helm should manage to coexist on offense together. The next head coach could appreciate them as a pairing. The Titans are scheduled to possess a league-leading amount of cap space this coming offseason. Okonkwo figures to command a multi-year contract that pays him between $10-12 million annually. The Titans should strongly consider bringing him back in 2026.
