Titans rookie on the verge of franchise record
Good things happen when the Tennessee Titans get the ball in the hands of rookie tight end Chig Okonkwo. That has been evident all season. Okonkwo, a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Maryland, has had a knack for the big play in his rookie year. Okonkwo is averaging 15.2 yards per […]
Good things happen when the Tennessee Titans get the ball in the hands of rookie tight end Chig Okonkwo. That has been evident all season.
Okonkwo, a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Maryland, has had a knack for the big play in his rookie year. Okonkwo is averaging 15.2 yards per catch by using his athleticism to become a dynamic and physical runner after the catch.
To put that in perspective, that yards per catch number (15.2) ties the rookie with Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson, and Terry McLaurin in that regard. Obviously, though, the sample size is a bit different.
Despite being a big play threat in a struggling offense, it took a while for Tennessee to get Okonkwo involved with regularity in their passing game. Chig has just 21 catches on the season, and 13 of them have come within the last three weeks. Okonkwo has played his way into more opportunity, proving to be one of the more dynamic weapons available in the Titans offense. He is also on the verge of playing his way into the record books.
With four games remaining in the 2022 season, Okonkwo will need just 10 more receiving yards to break the Titans franchise record for receiving yards by a rookie tight end (Ben Troupe, 329).
The Tennessee Titans do not usually have rookie tight ends included in their offensive game plan. A big reason for that is the amount of success and sustainability Tennessee has had at the position over the years.
Frank Wycheck, Jared Cook, and Delanie Walker cover 18 of the last 25 years on their own. There really hasn't been much need to have turnover at the position when things are that consistent.
With Okonkwo knocking on the door of the rookie record, though, it may be time to consider that "Chig" could join that group and be the next tight end to have a long and fruitful career in Tennessee.
Image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com-USA TODAY NETWORK
