Chigoziem Okonkwo

Chig Okonkwo Player Profile

Summary

Chigoziem Okonkwo was selected in the 4th Round (#143 Overall) in the 2022 Draft out of University of Maryland. Okonwko is a dynamic, athletic tight end who blends receiving upside with physicality in space. His profile is built on speed, burst, and after‑the‑catch ability — traits that allow him to stretch defenses and create separation from linebackers and safeties. Over his first few NFL seasons he’s shown flashes of becoming a go‑to receiving weapon at the position. At the same time, he remains somewhat raw in some of the more nuanced and football‑foundation areas of the TE role (e.g., consistent blocking, route‑tree depth, high‑volume production). If he continues to refine his technique and marches up in usage, his ceiling is that of a well‑rounded, high‑impact tight end.

Strengths

  • Athleticism & Speed: At the 2022 NFL Combine, Okonkwo ran a 4.52‑second 40‑yard dash, the fastest among tight ends in that class. This kind of speed for the position gives him a notable advantage in space. SI

  • Yards After Catch (YAC) / Open‑Field Playmaking: Outstanding ability to make things happen after the catch — changing direction, making defenders miss, and gaining big chunks.

  • Reliable Hands & Ball Tracking: Okonkwo shows good hands, can adjust to slightly off‑target throws, and has made contested or difficult catches in college. NFL Draft Buzz

  • Versatility in Offense: He has operated inline, in the slot, and in move‑tight end roles. His build and skill set allow him to be used in multiple alignments to create mismatches. SI

  • Production & Availability: From 2022 to 2024, Okonkwo appeared in all games, showing durability and consistent availability, and logged solid receiving yardage each season (~450–528 yards) despite not always being the primary pass‑catcher. NFL Clubs

Weaknesses

  • Blocking & Physical Strength Issues: While Okonkwo shows willingness as a blocker, he lacks elite size, power and consistency in blocking defensive linemen or bigger linebackers. His play strength as a blocker still lags his receiving skillset. SI

  • Route‑Tree Depth & Refinement: While he has shown good ability in certain routes (seams, drags, crosses), his overall route repertoire and polish (especially in shorter/technical areas) have been cited as areas to improve. SI

  • Touchdown & Big‑Play Consistency: Although his yardage numbers are solid, his touchdown totals have been modest (e.g., 2 TDs in 2024) and he hasn’t yet consistently produced big‑play frequency in the red zone or heavily targeted situations. PFF

  • Size & Length Compared to Elite TEs: At ~6′3″ and ~238 lbs earlier in his career, and with shorter arm/hand metrics relative to some pure blocking/wide‑split TEs, he may face challenges when matched up strictly as an in‑line, big‑body tight end. leaguesight.com

  • Dependence on Scheme & Usage: His ceiling is high, but realizing it may require the offense to lean on him more, give him designed roles and exploit his athletic mismatch abilities. If the system doesn’t maximize his unique traits, he could settle into a “solid contributor” rather than a breakout star.

Outlook & Fit

Okonkwo fits best in a scheme that utilises tight ends in space, allows them to run across the formation, work middle of the field and exploit mismatches and values athletic movement‑type tight ends rather than only big in‑line blockers. Given his age and progression, he appears primed to take another step forward: more targets, more involvement, improved blocking fundamentals. If that happens, he has the potential to be a top‑tier receiving tight end. If not, he still offers a very solid three‑down TE profile with upside.