With the NFL world still reacting to the news that tight end Rob Gronkowski will end his one-year retirement to join Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, there’s one name that seems even hotter than ever right now as we near the draft: TE O.J. Howard.
Howard, the former Alabama star and first-round pick of the Bucs in 2017, has underwhelmed in his three seasons in Tampa Bay. And after finding himself in coach Bruce Arians’ doghouse early last season, the team may be looking for a change, hence, the Gronkowski acquisition.
It’s no secret that Gronk was Brady’s guy in New England for nearly a decade, but many thought Howard would be given the chance to be that for Brady in Tampa Bay.
Adam Schefter has reported that as of now, there’s been no movement on the Howard-trade front.
Buccaneers now are poised to have three notable tight ends – Rob Gronkowski, OJ Howard and Cameron Brate – on their roster.
Two days before the draft, they do not have any pending trade for Howard.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2020
There’s still a lot of time between now and the draft for something to materialize, though. But, what would Howard fetch? In the Gronk trade, the Bucs acquired a seventh-rounder from New England while giving up a fourth-rounder of their own. It’s hard to imagine Howard fetching anything higher than a third-round pick, and even that seems a little too steep given his production over the last few years, or lack thereof. Still, I’m sure some team will be willing to roll the dice on the tight end given his young age and seemingly untapped potential.
There’s always the chance, too, the Bucs carry these three tight ends into training camp. But with Howard being a hot trade asset on a team looking to win now, he could be the odd man out once draft week is over.
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