The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have announced that they are going to pick up OJ Howard’s fifth year option.
We've exercised the fifth-year option on TE O.J. Howard.#GoBucs
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) April 29, 2020
The 4 year rookie contracts of the NFL first-round draft picks include a team option for a fifth season. Howard was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the 19th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Howard’s rookie deal was worth about $11.1 million, and he has a base salary of $1,473,602 for the 2020 season. For the 2021 season, Howard will make just over $6 million.
A few weeks, ago, rumors started circulating that the Buccaneers would be trading Howard since they acquired another tight end in Rob Gronkowski.
Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians had this to say about having depth in the tight end position, including Howard:
“I like both those guys. We’ll use three tight ends in our sets sometimes. Each and every one has a redeeming quality that helps us win. I think it’s a great room. Tanner Hudson and McElroy, those are young guys, too. It’s a really, really strong room, so I don’t know if anybody’s got a better tight-end room in the league. But I love playing tight ends.”
In his career with the Buccaneers, Howard has recorded 94 receptions for 1,456 yards and 12 touchdowns.