Commanders to sign former Terps Okonkwo, Cross in free agency

Two Maryland products are returning to the region. The Washington Commanders agreed to sign safety Nick Cross and tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.

Okonkwo agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal that would keep him in Washington through the 2028 season. Cross’ deal is two years, $14 million, per NFL Network.

The pair of Maryland natives played together for the Terrapins for three seasons from 2019 to 2021. Now they’ll be NFL teammates for the first time after starting their careers as rivals in the AFC South.

The Tennessee Titans drafted Okonkwo in the fourth round of the 2022 draft. The Indianapolis Colts selected Cross in the third round that year.

Okonkwo recorded 194 total receptions for 2,017 yards in four seasons with Tennessee. He set career highs last year with 56 catches for 560 yards.

The 26-year-old will likely help fill the hole left by former Commanders tight end Zach Ertz, who is now a free agent. Ertz, 35, was a favorite target for quarterback Jayden Daniels before an ACL injury ended his season in December.

Cross is an athletic marvel at safety, the latest versatile chess piece for new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones’ disguise-heavy scheme. General manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn outlined a plan to get younger and faster on defense after an abysmal showing last season.

Cross checks those boxes. The 24-year-old posted a metric called relative athletic score of 9.9 out of 10 at the 2022 scouting combine. He led all safeties with a 4.34-second 40-yard dash and showed solid range with the Colts.

The DeMatha Catholic High School alum started all 17 games for Indianapolis in each of the past two seasons. He recorded 120 tackles last season with 2 1/2 sacks, five tackles for loss, five pass deflections and an interception. Cross took snaps as a deep safety, in the box and at slot cornerback.

Cross will likely compete for a starting job with returning safety Quan Martin, who struggled in the Commanders’ 5-12 season.

The new safety is part of a broader defensive overhaul that continued throughout the first week of NFL free agency in Washington. The Commanders also agreed to sign edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson to a one-year contract on Wednesday morning.

Chaisson is in the middle of a resurgence after a slow start to his NFL career. The 26-year-old recorded a career-high seven sacks for New England last season with a pair of forced fumbles. He added three sacks and a league-high four tackles for loss during the Patriots’ playoff run.

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Chaisson in the first round of the 2020 draft. He never met the expectations associated with his draft slot in Jacksonville, recording just five sacks in four seasons.

But the LSU product has set new career-best sack totals in each of the last two years, first with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024 and then with the Patriots last season. His new contract — another one-year deal that will allow him to test free agency again next offseason — is his biggest yet by yearly salary.

Chaisson is the second edge rusher expected to sign with Washington when the new league year begins at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The Commanders had already reached a four-year, $100 million deal with former Los Angeles Chargers pass rusher Odafe Oweh.

The pass rush was a weak spot on Washington’s defense last season. Von Miller, 36, led the team with nine sacks.

Washington continued to miss out on the biggest names in free agency. The Commanders were vying to sign former Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson. The 31-year-old instead agreed to a four-year, $112 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens.