When Tom Brady decided to make the Buccaneers his new team, the thought of him throwing deep balls to Pro Bowlers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin had Bucs fans and fantasy football owners salivating. But Brady’s arrival also had people buzzing about tight end O.J. Howard.
Howard, the team’s first-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft, has failed to live up to expectations in his three seasons in Tampa Bay, and found himself in coach Bruce Arians’ doghouse early last season. But, as most people know, Brady had some of his best statistical seasons throwing to tight end Rob Gronkowski in New England, and the Patriots even reached out to the Bucs at the trade deadline last season to inquire about Howard after Gronkowski retired last offseason.
It seemed like Howard would finally get the chance to reach his potential with Brady in the mix. However, it appears as though he might not get the chance to play with the six-time Super Bowl champion.
Speaking on the “GM Shuffle” podcast, former NFL executive Michael Lombardi said the Bucs may be looking to trade Howard before or during the upcoming NFL draft.
Per Lombardi:
“I [got] a phone call … from somebody in the league who said, ‘Look, I don’t think Howard’s going to be on the [Buccaneers this season]. They’re trying to trade him.’ [The Bucs] wanted a second-round pick for him at the trading deadline (that) no one would give them. Howard’s got a great name, but I think there’s an instinctive issue going on. I think he’s going to be available. It would not surprise me if he was traded on draft day or the day before.”
The news might come as a shock to many. While Howard had very pedestrian numbers last season, 34 receptions for 459 yards and one touchdown, he did do well as a blocking tight end.
Bruce Arians’ offense hasn’t exactly been a tight end friendly system, but remember, one of Brady’s stipulations for joining a new team was having a say in the offense, and we all know how well he performed with tight ends in New England.
Unless the Buccaneers can get at least a second-round pick for Howard, the smart move may be to hold onto him and see how he does with Brady. If things don’t work out, Tampa Bay can ship him out before the trade deadline in the fall.
This story will certainly be one to focus on in the lead up to next week’s draft.
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