The Bucs & Dalton Schultz
February 17th, 2024
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
Inside the hallowed halls of One Buc Palace, the Bucs are fine tuning their free agency value board.
Essentially, Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht and his team place a price/value on every free agent in the NFL. When a guy isn’t commanding what Licht thinks the player is worth, then the Bucs’ honchos sit up on their chairs.
The brings Joe to the Bucs’ tight end position. Tampa Bay has overworked Cade Otton as its top dog. He played a ridiculous 97 percent of the 2023 regular season snaps. That’s almost inhumane.
After Otton, the Bucs had little-used rookie Payne Durham, a guy for whom Licht has very high hopes. And then there’s try-hard Ko Kieft, who is more of a special teams player.
In short, the Bucs are thin at tight end and Otton is an average starter. So Joe believes the Bucs could use serious help at tight end — for depth and more options for new playcaller Liam Coen.
The Bucs are playing with fire at the position unless they’re convinced Durham is ready for a major role.
Enter pending Texans free agent Dalton Schultz. He’s better than Otton but not among the elite tight ends. He was the Cowboys’ franchise-tagged player in 2022, and then he bolted to the Texans for a one-year deal at $6.2 million. Schultz turned in solid numbers last sason — 59 catches for 635 yards and 5 touchdowns — similar to his 2022 output in Dallas.
Nobody in Tampa would have a pool party if the Bucs sign Schultz, but if he can’t work something out with Houston, then Joe think he’s worth a long look.
Schultz spoke recently about hoping to find common ground with the Texans, but that’s no guarantee he’ll be with them this season.
If the Bucs aren’t going to chase a running back in the draft or buy one, then the next best way to improve Todd Bowles’ beloved run game would be to add a dual threat tight end.
February 17th, 2024 at 3:09 pm
Can he block/play fullback?
February 17th, 2024 at 3:13 pm
Would we have done more 2 tight end sets if we had a better second?
February 17th, 2024 at 3:23 pm
I like Kieft as a blocker, he’s the only good blocking TE on the team. Otton is a terrible blocker and had a few too many drops, especially early in the season. Sure, Shultz would be an upgrade at TE1 but I expect him to resign and we don’t have the CAP.
February 17th, 2024 at 3:27 pm
Check Schultz’s drops . He has claws for hands.
February 17th, 2024 at 3:36 pm
Is Schultz really an upgrade over Otton? At any rate – Joe can have a field day coming up with a nick name for Schultz. “I see nothing!” Yea, that guy from Stalag 13.
February 17th, 2024 at 3:42 pm
2024 Draft (Day 3)
TE Brevyn Spann-Ford | Minnesota Football
February 17th, 2024 at 3:43 pm
TE’s are really expensive – I’d be quite surprised if the Bucs got anyone that was good since it would cost so much. Otton is an average starter, and there’s nothing wrong with that, you can’t have superstars everywhere. Also TEs are one of the slowest to develop positions in football, so I doubt he’s peaked quite yet. If they did target a TE, I’d assume it would be for that #2 role, but I also think Durham probably showed just enough to be OK with keeping him there. They do need depth, and TE is so expensive you want to be ahead of the curve on it, so I wouldn’t be shocked if they spent another draft pick on the position.
February 17th, 2024 at 3:57 pm
LT Dan, that’s my point. If Schultz is not that much better why should the Bucs go out and sign. Just my opinion. Joe please come up with better options 😊
February 17th, 2024 at 3:59 pm
How about that stud from GA Bowers at 26?
February 17th, 2024 at 4:05 pm
Schultz’s numbers the last two years look pretty obtainable for Otton, who seems to be improving at a decent rate. Why blow 6M? Save it for Chase Young!
February 17th, 2024 at 4:05 pm
Sure, if the salary cap didn’t exist.
Mort, the point is if Schultz becomes a value selection. If the Bucs see him as a $6 million tight end and all of a sudden it seems he’ll take $4 million plus incentives, then the game changes.–Joe
February 17th, 2024 at 4:08 pm
Bowers will be gone in the top 15…… maybe top 10
February 17th, 2024 at 4:08 pm
I think Schultz is good, he was one of the TE’s the Bucs forgot to cover when they played Dallas in the playoffs a few years ago. That said, I surely would want all of the Big 5 Bucs free agents back before spending money on a TE. Any leftover money (if there is any) should probably be used on an interior O-Lineman or 2, maybe Whitehead at SS if he wants to play for the Bucs again.
February 17th, 2024 at 4:19 pm
TE wise, we need one of those hybrid TE/WR guys who excels at catching the ball. Otton is just so average at everything and excels at nothing. I’d like to see us trade him for a real pass catching TE to team with Kieft blocking.
February 17th, 2024 at 4:26 pm
Brevyn Spann-Ford
• Age 24 years
• Height: 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
• Weight: 272 lb (122 kg)
• 40YD: 4.70
February 17th, 2024 at 5:02 pm
Bucs made two good hires today for offensive coaches. Bryan McClendon, WR Coach from U of G and Brian Picucci, U of K, as Asst OL Coach/Run Game Coordinator
February 17th, 2024 at 5:03 pm
In a 12 Personnel lineup, think of Payne Durham and Brevyn Spann-Ford, both standing tall at 6-7, known for being savage run blockers. They team up with the explosive Rachaad White and a pick from the 2024 draft prospects:
Trey Benson
Jaylen Wright
Dillon Johnson
Now, imagine the potential 1st-round draft pick, Jackson Powers-Johnson, holding down the line. Our running game is looking solid for 2024.
February 17th, 2024 at 5:03 pm
Something doesn’t add up , Texans have the cap space.
If he comes to the Bucs it will be his 3rd team in 3 years.
February 17th, 2024 at 5:33 pm
Spann-Ford is a beast of TE, looks great on tape catching the ball and PFF had this to say about his blocking, “senior’s 82.5 run-blocking grade led all Power Five tight ends, while his 14 big-time blocks (PFF’s highest-graded blocks) were four more than any other tight end in the country. With his dominance in the run game at 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds, the Golden Gophers essentially have a third offensive tackle on the field when he’s out there.”
February 17th, 2024 at 5:39 pm
His stats are barely better than Otton’s.
February 17th, 2024 at 5:40 pm
Also keep in mind Mike Gesicki is also a free agent that I’d like to see with us…
He would be a great benefit without being super expensive…
February 17th, 2024 at 5:42 pm
Hopefully, we snag two standout backs in this draft to elevate our running game.
February 17th, 2024 at 5:43 pm
Usfbucs
Respect!
February 17th, 2024 at 7:26 pm
Whether Shultz is considered good or not I doubt he leaves the Texans. He was Shrouds go to guy when all else failed. He came thru plenty snd contributed 5 TD’s.
February 17th, 2024 at 7:33 pm
I would def have a pool party. I would love this signing
February 17th, 2024 at 9:08 pm
Don’t see Schultz as an upgrade over Otton.
February 17th, 2024 at 9:55 pm
Durham has a lot of potential. Growth is to be expected. Neither he nor Otton are much for blocking, though. Hopefully that improves.
February 17th, 2024 at 10:44 pm
The bucs can’t afford their own free agents. Not much of a chance he will be considered.
February 17th, 2024 at 11:52 pm
So far, Ko has been a wasted pick. Otten is average, but shows potential to be much better.
I’d have no problem with Dalton Schultz but the only thing I really want to hear right now is Mike Evans signing tomorrow
because that saves them almost 8 mil in the cap.
February 18th, 2024 at 8:24 am
Seems such an odd article. Spend for a Y – tight end when Otton is the same guy but younger. Now personally, I am not watching Dalton Schultz so maybe he became good at blocking. However, I do not think so from what I am reading. He was not a good blocker coming out of college either.
Really, if Daulton was such a good blocker, he would have gone for more than 6 million last year coming off the 3 seasons he had receiving the ball.
February 18th, 2024 at 9:28 am
Just Tell Rob G he can Drink A couple of Beers on the Sideline for the next two years. Given him a Token and Let him Personally FIRE THE CANNONS with every TD he scores and let him “Help” for the next 2 years. EZ, that dude is a competitor…He likes hunting for FUN.
February 18th, 2024 at 2:24 pm
@Rod Munch – for once, you and I agree… TE is too expensive to waste money on. Takes a long time to develop. I think Otten shows potential, though he’s gotta improve his blocking.
I like Spann-Ford and Cade Stover as possible draft picks, and Durham will definitely improve. Not sure about Keift.
IF we’re looking for a better receiving TE – Harrison Bryant is gonna be available, and Baker already knows him – had some good success with him in Cle. And he’d be cheap. He has a knack of getting open in the end zone.
February 18th, 2024 at 5:13 pm
I think Payne Durham ends up being the guy next season
February 18th, 2024 at 5:27 pm
Payne Durham looks like a stud in the making.