Commanders' tight ends set to be a big part of the offense in 2026

When fans and analysts discuss the Washington Commanders' offseason, many say GM Adam Peters didn't do enough to help quarterback Jayden Daniels and the offense. That's simply not true. Washington's aggressive remake of its defense will help Daniels more than anything.

The Commanders also have a new offensive coordinator, who will be much less predictable than former OC Kliff Kingsbury. David Blough plans to employ a multiple-offense approach, mixing in some of what Ben Johnson does, along with influences from Kingsbury and Kevin O'Connell. Each of these coaches influenced Blough in his playing and brief coaching career.

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Blough's offense is designed to help Daniels in the running game, pre-snap motion, etc. Washington also signed versatile tight end Chig Okonkwo, who gives Daniels another dynamic weapon in the passing game. Okonkwo replaces Zach Ertz. Daniels loved Ertz. Ertz was reliable, dependable and consistent. He was truly a quarterback's best friend. Okonkwo is younger and much more dynamic than Ertz, though.

While Washington continues to be linked to free-agent receivers, such as Stefon Diggs, and disgruntled ones, like Brandon Aiyuk, the tight end position could become a huge part of the passing game.

In addition to Okonkwo, the Commanders also have Ben Sinnott and John Bates. By all accounts, all three players are having a strong transition in Blough's offense. Here's what Zach Selby noticed during Washington's OTA session on Tuesday.

Chig Okonkwo, Ben Sinnott and John Bates all got to show off their route running ability, and each player had some impressive catches in the middle of the field. Daniels likes to develop strong bonds with his tight ends, and if that can continue into the season, perhaps we could see more multiple tight end sets in David Blough's offense.

Most of the hype centers on Okonkwo and his dynamic after the catch. Don't overlook the others. Bates is arguably the NFL's best blocking tight end, but when Washington calls his number, he delivers. He could get more of a chance in 2026. Sinnott is interesting. We saw Daniels and Sinnott hook up in practice on Tuesday, with fans hoping to see more of that this season.

Sinnott didn't do much in his first two years. Not all of that was his fault. He seemed ill-suited for Kingsbury's offense. And when Ertz was healthy, he was always playing. Sinnott's game showed growth last season, especially as a blocker. In Blough's offense, he could be moved around the formation, lining up as a traditional tight end, in the slot, as an H-back, or in the backfield as a fullback. His blocking and athleticism make him an intriguing option for Blough's new-look offense.

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The entire offseason was about helping Daniels. Sure, the Commanders missed out on a few players, most notably wide receiver Alec Pierce, but what they gained overall is much more significant. Sometimes, when judging a team's offseason, it's best to wait until we see them on the field. If we've learned anything this offseason, it's that Blough will likely employ tight ends much differently than Kingsbury.

It's fun to be excited about Okonkwo. But don't overlook the rest of Washington's tight ends either. We could see plenty of 12 and 13 personnel from the Commanders in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Tight ends to be a big part offense in 2026