Tennessee Titans TE Chigoziem Okonkwo: 4 things to know

The Tennessee Titans added to their stable of tight ends in the 2022 NFL draft when they selected Maryland tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo in the fourth round (No. 143 overall).

Okonkwo now joins a depth chart that includes starter Austin Hooper and backup Geoff Swaim, among others.

Here are four things to know.

How to pronounce his name

AP Photo/Carlos Osorio

For those of you who aren’t sure how to pronounce his name, Kim Smith from Titans public relations is here to help:

Connection to Frank Wycheck

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The connection between Okonkwo and Wycheck extends beyond the Titans.

Both also played tight end at Maryland, and Okonkwo fell just six receptions short of breaking Wycheck’s single-season record, and just one catch short of Wycheck’s single-game record with the Terrapins.

Jonnu Smith comparisons

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Thanks to his impressive athleticism and physicality, Okonkwo typically draws comparisons to former Titans tight end, Jonnu Smith, which is something he’s well aware of.

“Yeah, Jonnu (Smith) was one of the guys I like to watch throughout college, just because he’s a 6-foot-2 guy just like me. So he’s one of the guys I like to pattern my game after,” Okonkwo said.

“Oh yeah, his play style too is very, very physical,” he continued. “I feel like it’s very good with the ball in his hands. I feel like I’m the same way. I’m very physical. I’m not afraid to stick my head in there. And then he’s very strong after the catch. So that’s definitely some of the similarities that people see between him and me.”

As far as speed is concerned, Okonkwo has plenty of it. In fact, he ran the fastest 40 time of any tight end at the combine (4.52) and says he has run a 4.4 in the past.

“The fastest time I ran was when I was in Florida. I ran a 4.44 and that I feel like that makes me a very dangerous vertical threat down the field, just being able to beat guys with my speed. So that’s a big piece of my game is my speed.”

How he fits

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Okonkwo will be battling for that No. 2 spot behind Hooper in 2022, but he’ll need to improve his blocking if he hopes to fully jump Swaim on the depth chart and see a significant amount of snaps in 12 personnel.

Where Okonkwo does figure to make at least somewhat of an immediate impact is as a pass-catcher, where he presents a difficult matchup and is a menace with the ball in his hands thanks to his speed.

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