The Denver Broncos will certainly be looking to upgrade their tight end room this offseason. Both Head Coach Sean Payton and General Manager George Paton stated that it was an obvious need to address given the makeup of the position group the other day at the 2026 NFL Combine.
With only Evan Engram and Caleb Lohner currently on the roster and the position group essentially being a blank canvas moving forward, the Broncos certainly have nowhere to go but up relative to talent and production. My gut
tells me the Broncos will be in on a traditional Y tight end with great blocking chops.
However, if they are looking for a receiving threat who has great open field and run-after-the-catch ability, Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo is a player they could take a look at. Let’s discuss his fit in Denver, what he excels at, and some of his weaknesses.
Player Profile
Tight End | Chig Okonkwo | Tennessee Titans
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 238 pounds
Age: 26 years old
Experience: 4 NFL seasons
2025 stats: 17 games played with 12 starts. 56 catches on 79 targets for 560 yards and 2 touchdowns. 71-percent catch rate, 24 first downs, and only one drop.
Should the Broncos sign tight end Chig Okonkwo?
A fourth-round selection by the Titans in the 2022 NFL Draft, Okonkwo has been a steady contributor since entering the NFL. Durable and dependable, Okonkwo has appeared in every game (68) with 42 starts.
In four seasons, the former Terrapin standout has caught 194 passes for 2,017 yards and 8 touchdowns. Ninety of those receptions have moved the chains. He has been reliable as a receiver dropping only 6 passes in four years. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but considering he only plays a little over 60-percent of the Titans’ offensive snaps, that’s quality production.
He works well over the middle of the field and plays well in space. He does a good job of making defenders miss in the open field. A lot of Titans fans felt he was underutilized and deserved more looks vertically, as opposed to short routes and screens that he was often target at. Okonkwo quite possibly could see a drastic rise in production if he went to a team that would feature him more.
According to Spotrac, Okonkwo’s market value is roughly $8 million per year. If that pans out, that is an affordable rate for a player who could help Denver’s aerial attack. But how realistic is it for Denver to approach him in free agency?
Why the Broncos will not sign Chig Okonkwo in free agency.
The Broncos will likely be in the market for a tight end who can primarily line up inline as opposed to Okonkwo. Like Engram, Okonkwo gets a lot of reps flexed out or on the move. There is likely a significant overlap in the roles and responsibilities that both would have in the offense, which makes me feel Denver will ultimately go a different direction to add to their room.
On top of that, Okonkwo isn’t much of a run blocker. PFF has had him ranked as one of the worst in that respect since being drafted. Others have questioned his abilities and impact there as well. Considering those two things, I feel it’s unlikely Denver would opt to pursue him. However, if they chose to move on from Evan Engram (which seems unrealistic) adding him into the mix would make some sense.
Final Thoughts
There is a lot to like about Okonkwo. He is a reliable target in the receiving game and does well moving the chains and making plays down the field when target. But as mentioned above, it just seems like there is too much overlap in how Denver uses Engram and how he was utilized in Tennessee. He is a good player, but I believe the Broncos will wind up finding a traditional Y tight end who can be a catalyst in jumpstarting their rushing attack for the 2026 season.
What do you think, Broncos Country? Would you be in favor of the Broncos signing Chig Okonkwo to upgrade their tight end room? Sound off in the comments section and let me know what you think.
