Cade Otton And The Fight For No. 1 Tight End
March 13th, 2023
Bucs TE Cade Otton.
Foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski is truly gone for good now that Tom Brady seems to be gone for good. And Cam Brate is gone for good because he was notified of his release.
So does that mean incoming second-year tight end Cade Otton takes over as the top Bucs tight end? Maybe, Bucs coach Todd Bowles said last month at the combine.
“He can be, I mean he showed some things this year,” Bowles said. “For a rookie he played very well, you didn’t know he was a rookie – he plays very smart, he plays very tough, he’s a heady ball player.
“He’s only going to get stronger and better and I’m excited to see him.”
Otton did flash and gave Bucs fans hope. The game against the Rams sticks out.
Bowles is right. Otton needs to get stronger. A full offseason in the weightroom will help, which should help his blocking.
As for Otton being the No. 1 tight end, well, this draft is loaded with tight ends. So it will be interesting to see what the Bucs do.
Back to Otton, Joe remembers that rarely do rookie tight ends do much when they get to the NFL. So Joe is trying to keep that in mind. What doesn’t impress as a rookie could quickly change for a tight end.
March 13th, 2023 at 6:06 am
He’s a #2 TE. Need to find a #1 in FA or the draft.
March 13th, 2023 at 6:49 am
I like Otton and think he will be pretty darn good.
March 13th, 2023 at 7:01 am
Should the Bucs use their 1st Round pick on a TE? Absolutely not. Find one on the 3rd day of the draft, let them battle it out for TE #1.
March 13th, 2023 at 7:43 am
Otton good. Kieft good. Both would get better with a decent head coach.
March 13th, 2023 at 8:31 am
It will all depend on how we approach the draft….
My thought is that we pick replacements for Dean, LVD, LT, Hicks/Gholston & perhaps a S. Then later in the draft we focus on TE & RB.
We are unlikely to find a #1 TE in FA (no money) so Otton may very well end up being our #1
March 13th, 2023 at 8:34 am
what goatman said!
I like our 2 young TE’s. need one more like em. no more kyle rndolph or whatever his name is….or old retread that still looks fit but is brittle. Let these guys grow this year.
March 13th, 2023 at 9:08 am
Best thing about Cade Otton, which I imagine is a biproduct of being raised by football coaches is that when he takes contact as a ball carrier the dude is good for a good 2-3 yards whilst being tackled. I’d bank on another TE being added via the draft(maybe not at 19th overall like MadMax would like lol) or the initial UDFA signing extravaganza. TEs I like in this draft without spending too much/highly are Josh Whyle & Davis Allen. It’s harder to find well rounded TEs in the draft, because the guys who makes their bones as players in college at that position are usually lauded for being exceptonal targets, whether they can contribute/function as blockers be damned.
March 13th, 2023 at 9:20 am
Don’t know if he is a number 1 or 2 TE. Too early to tell but I agree with Bowles that for a rookie his production was strong.
Compare him to George Kittle, TJ Hockenson, Darren Waller, Mark Andrews and Dallas Goedert’s 1st seasons and he is right there.
Rather be a glass half full outlook than a glass half empty.
So that being said, I would not overdraft the TE position at this point. Certainly, would not pay for a number 1 TE in free agency.
March 13th, 2023 at 9:58 am
I thought he was the #1? Is heady a word???
March 13th, 2023 at 11:00 am
Had a pretty good rookie season.
He is definitely TE 1 calibre!
There are not 12 top tier TE in the NFL.
He could easily be top 16 which would make him middle of the pack TE1.
Not everybody luck’s into a Kelce,Andrews,Goedart,Kittle.
Not many others out there that were significantly better than Otton last year.u
Rookie Tight ends notoriously don’t put up production.
Gronk who had Prime Brady throwing to him had same 42 catches as a rookie. Yes more yards and touchdowns but better Brady and team.
March 13th, 2023 at 11:19 am
He will become a excellent TE , I am anxiously awaiting to see how much man weight he will put on this off season along with the rookie WR Devin
March 13th, 2023 at 2:16 pm
Otten may be a hidden gem. Let him get stronger and in a more tight end friendly offense and see what he can do.
March 13th, 2023 at 3:48 pm
I’d like us to draft that stud TE who is an excellent blocker in the 1st
March 16th, 2023 at 4:05 pm
Didnt you read the article, rookie TE dont do much. Otton is the guy, just too bad there is no QB on the roster.