It's Decision time on Chig Okonkwo for the Tennessee Titans

Mike Patton

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It's Decision time on Chig Okonkwo for the Tennessee Titans image

The clock has reached triple zeroes in Jacksonville and the season is over for the Tennessee Titans. The offseason has officially begun, and with that, there are decisions. But the decisions are not just on who they will draft, but who they will bring in as free agents and who they will let go this offseason. One player to watch this offseason for the Titans will be tight end Chig Okonkwo. The talented tight end led the Tennessee Titans in receptions with 56 and had a shade under 560 yards receiving with two touchdown receptions.  Chig will be a free agent this offseason after four years with the Titans organization, and the team has to decide whether to bring him back or let him walk in free agency. So, what are the positives and negatives when it comes to Chig?

 One big positive is the way he runs after he catches the football. Once he gets the ball in his hands, Chig runs with reckless abandon. He also finishes each play, which usually means he is going to either make one guy miss or have more than one guy tackle him. His ability to get the most out of plays is reflected in his yards per catch, which he has averaged over 10 yards per reception for his entire four-year career. Where that ability to make people miss and refusing to go down could help the Titans in the future is on third downs when Cam Ward needs someone to get a first down for him.

A negative when it comes to Chig is the illusion of some of his stats. Sure, this season he has produced meaningful stats and his play has improved. But over the previous three years, he has accumulated stats in garbage time, not in meaningful moments. There is the thought that he may regress and not produce meaningful numbers like he did this season. And if that is the case, then he would be a more expensive version of who he was in the first three years. But that is the chance you take with someone integral to the Titans' offense now with Cam Ward.

With Chig hitting free agency, you also have to wonder if the Titans will pay what he could command. The market estimates he may earn between $8 and $12 million a year in his next contract, based on his numbers and market value. With those numbers floating around, the Titans have to ask themselves if they are willing to pay that type of money to keep him. The Titans will have over $100 million in salary cap space this offseason and will have the funds available if they choose to give Chig a contract extension. The question now is, will they or won’t they?

As for Chig, he has made it clear where he wants to be next season.

Staff Writer