Tag: Cade Otton

Bucs TE Cade Otton emerging from the shadows in recent weeks

The Buccaneers panicked when they lost Mike Evans and Chris Godwin for significant portions of the season.

The Buccaneers panicked when they lost Mike Evans and Chris Godwin for significant portions of the season. The question immediately surrounded who would step up, and the answer has come out of the woodwork in recent weeks.

Tight end Cade Otton has finally started to emerge as a reliable option in the passing game, and PFF has pointed out how well he has played in recent weeks.

According to PFF, in the last two weeks among tight ends, he ranks first in receptions (17), second in receiving yards (181), tied for third in first downs (9), and tied for first in missed tackles forced (4).

If he can keep this up, he will help Baker Mayfield succeed and help Rakim Jarrett and Trey Palmer as they work on the outside. The receivers aren’t going to break the door down and excite someone, but Otton is well on his way to emerging as a solidified option in this offense.

5 key takeaways from the Bucs pivotal win over the Saints in Week 6

An ever-important bounce-back game was on the docket for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the New Orleans Saints on the road.

An ever-important bounce-back game was on the docket for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the New Orleans Saints following their Week 5 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Not only would the Bucs fall to .500 with a loss, but they would have been 0-2 in the NFC South, a place you do not want to be.

With a commanding 51-27 win over their division rivals, this was more of a giant leap forward for the Bucs team, who improved to 4-2 on the season. Here are 5 key takeaways from Sunday’s pivotal win over the Saints.

The offense once again showed glimpses of explosiveness

For the fourth time in six games, Baker Mayfield and the Bucs have put up more than 30 points, three of those being in winning efforts. Despite three interceptions from Mayfield, two of which should have been catches, Liam Coen never let off the gas in his playcalling. Three fourth-quarter touchdowns were a much different -and welcomed- feeling for Bucs fans as the offense was able to truly shut the door on the Saints in their blowout win.

The Buccaneers have the luxury of two superstar wide receivers and a revolving door of capable running backs. A balanced offensive attack proved the recipe for success against the Saints, as there was a 36-to-35 passing attempt to 35-to-35 rushing attempt split.

Rachaad White might be the odd man out

There will likely continue to be a theme when it comes to figuring out the running back room, and the theme will be uncertainty. A couple of times this season, it appeared that Rachaad White and Bucky Irving could be in the discussion for one of the top duos in the league until they weren’t. That conversation spun off into Irving potentially taking over RB1 duties from White. With White being inactive for Sunday’s matchup against the Saints, insert Sean Tucker into the conversation. Tucker carried the ball 14 times for 136 yards and a touchdown, while Irving also logged 14 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown.

A saving grace for White has been his ability to catch passes and create out of the backfield. However, Tucker finished the day as the team’s second-leading receiver, with 56 yards and a touchdown on three receptions.

The coaching staff will need to figure this out, and with arguably the toughest four-game stretch in the league looming, it might be time to roll the dice and stick with what worked so well against the Saints.

Defense still needs to tighten up

Don’t let the score fool you. Typically a 30+ point effort puts your team into prevent defense and clock-eating mode, that just simply hasn’t been the case for this team more often than not this season. Once up 17-0 early over the Saints, quickly turned into a 3-point 20-17 deficit. Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler was sacked five times and threw two interceptions on the day, but he never truly looked uncomfortable in the backfield in his first career start.

Only one time throughout their six games have the Buccaneers given up less than 250 yards, and that was to an A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith-less Eagles offense that generated 227 yards of offense. Leaving your offense to win in a shootout is going to be a difficult task, especially with the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, and San Francisco 49ers coming up. Yes, a crucial game against the Atlanta Falcons should be on the radar as the defense allowed Kirk Cousins to have a career day in Week 5.

Cade Otton isn’t the tight end the Bucs need

As legendary pro wrestling commentator Jim Ross would say, “he’s a good hand.” What that means is that he can be dependable, but there is nothing that truly stands out. It’s not a knock on Otton, but he is incapable of the athletic playmaking that the Buccaneers offense needs. GM Jason Licht is not one to make in-season trades, however, a dynamic playmaking tight end could prove to push this offense into the upper echelon of the consistently elite offenses in the NFL- emphasis on consistently.

Tykee Smith is developing into a solid starter

It’s too early in his career to talk about a budding superstar. After yesterday’s performance, it’s understandable why emotions are high, but let’s bring it back down to earth and talk about what Tykee Smith truly is, and that is a very solid developing star in this Buccaneers defense. Allowing just a 3.5 passer rating -yes, you read that right, 3.5- to Rattler while seeing six targets (second most behind Zyon McCollum’s 7) cannot be ignored. As Jamel Dean has struggled in the first quarter of the 2024 season, and the continued need for Todd Bowles to tighten up the defense, Smith should continue to see more snaps- especially with the return of Antoine Winfield Jr. looming over the top.

 

Bucs TE Payne Durham leaves practice with knee injury

Bucs tight end Payne Durham left practice Wednesday with a knee injury

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Payne Durham left joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars with an apparent knee injury, per multiple reports.

The Bucs are running tests on the injury, and there’s still no update on the severity (via team senior writer Scott Smith).

Durham is entering his second year with the Bucs and is looking to expand his role on offense. Last year, he saw limited action, catching just five passes on seven targets for 58 yards.

Cade Otton is expected to return as Tampa Bay’s starting tight end, and the Bucs are also bringing back 2022 sixth-round pick Ko Kieft, who is primarily used as a blocker. An extended absence by Durham would open an opportunity for 2024 seventh-round pick Devin Culp to make a case for the final roster.

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Bucs TE Cade Otton talks pizza, parenthood and more

Check out this behind-the-scenes feature on Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton

Heading into his third NFL season, Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton is on the verge of a breakout campaign after showing flashes of potential over the past two years.

The former fourth-round pick remains the Bucs’ top tight end on the depth chart, and continues to develop chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Off the field, Otton has already had a memorable 2024, as he and his wife, Sierra Snyder, welcomed their first child into the world earlier this offseason.

One of many former Washington Huskies on the Bucs’ current squad, Otton recently sat down with team reporter Casey Phillips to talk parenthood, pizza, and a wide range of other topics as he prepares for the upcoming season:

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Bucs 2024 training camp preview: Tight end

What does the Bucs’ tight end group look like heading into training camp?

The tight end position in Tampa Bay has been a bit of an afterthought since the retirement of Rob Gronkowski in 2022, devoting few resources to the position over the last few years. This year’s training camp will be the first in several years where the group will be comprised mostly of experienced players and will rely on growth and consistency rather than new talent.

This will be Cade Otton’s third year with the Bucs and once again he will be the workhorse of the tight end group. Last year he dominated the snap shares in the group, playing 1063 snaps against 383 from the rest of the Bucs’ tight ends.

Though his receiving stats are not gaudy and he is just an adequate blocker, Tampa Bay’s coaching staff trusts Otton to play a part in every aspect of the offense. Despite having just two seasons under his belt, Otton will be a veteran presence at camp.

Fellow 2022 draft pick Ko Kieft has not been a featured player since joining the Bucs roster, operating mostly as a run blocker when he does see the field. Of all the returning tight ends, his future is most in doubt, though not from team design.

Kieft was the only player that head coach Todd Bowles indicated may not be healthy at the start of training camp. Kieft’s experience will buy him some goodwill from the Bucs’ staff, but his limited utility could make him expendable if his health issues linger.

The returning tight end with some unrealized upside is Payne Durham. The Bucs’ 2023 fifth-round pick has more prototypical size for a tight end than anyone else on the roster, which made him a big target for Baker Mayfield at times last season.

However, Durham struggled with drops, a major concern given his limited opportunities. If he is going to loosen Otton’s grip on the tight end reps in Tampa Bay, Durham has earn the confidence of Mayfield and the Bucs coaching staff with sure hands.

The Bucs did add one tight end this offseason, taking Washington TE Devin Culp with their last pick in the draft. Culp is built in the mold of modern tight ends. He is smaller at 6’3″ and 231 pounds but supremely athletic for his size, recording the top 40 time among tight ends at this year’s NFL Combine.

Buried on Washington’s depth chart behind a cavalcade of now-NFL receivers like teammate Jalen McMillan, Culp had few opportunities to express his talent as a receiver before now. Culp will be among a handful of young players vying to establish himself as a dynamic and reliable target in the Bucs offense.

Like most rookies, Culp’s path to the final roster will be special teams, which he did play at Washington. While he is unlikely to crack the Bucs’ tight end rotation this year, Culp could make the investment worthwhile if he can make it through camp and earn a roster spot by the end of camp.

At the tail of the tight end depth chart are David Wells and Tanner Taula. Wells was a surprising standout at last year’s training camp, so much so that he managed to spend some time on the main roster during the season. However he is entering his seventh NFL season and comes with no real upside.

Taula also had a good camp last year, earning him a place on the practice squad. Unless he makes a major leap forward as a receiver, he is likely to be in a similar position by the end of camp this year.

Bucs TE Cade Otton, wife Sierra welcome new baby daughter

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers family grew by one this weekend, as tight end Cade Otton and his wife Sierra welcomed a new baby into the world

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers family grew by one this week, as tight end Cade Otton and his wife, Sierra, welcomed a baby girl into the world.

A photo of the happy family was shared on the Bucs’ official Twitter account Monday.

It’s been an offseason of growing families for the Bucs offense, as Otton joins both quarterback Baker Mayfield and offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs, who have also become new dads over the past few months.

Congrats to Otton family on their new addition.

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WATCH: Bucs TE Cade Otton makes ridiculous 1-handed catch at practice

Check out this amazing one-handed catch from Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have an unsung hero at tight end heading into the 2024 NFL season, as Cade Otton could be primed for a breakout year in his third campaign in the pros.

Otton has already shown a penchant for making big plays in clutch moments, and now, he’s showing off his athleticism and hands during the Bucs’ recent mandatory minicamp.

Watch the video above to see the ridiculous one-handed catch Otton made during practice earlier this month.

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Bucs TE Cade Otton gets ‘new dad’ advice from QB Baker Mayfield

See what advice Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield gave teammate Cade Otton as he prepares to become a new dad

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield recently became a dad, welcoming a new baby girl into the world with his wife, Emily earlier this year.

He’s not the only one, either, as left tackle Tristan Wirfs and his girlfriend, Meredith Sutton, welcomed their son around the same time.

Tight end Cade Otton is next in line to become a new dad, and during his recent press conference during Tampa Bay’s first round of OTAs, he was asked if Mayfield has given him any sage advice about his new off-field role.

Here’s what he said on the matter, as well as how much he enjoys playing with so many former college teammates from Washington:

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Cade Otton brings valuable durability at TE for Bucs

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a reliable presence at tight end with Cade Otton heading into his third season

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a quiet, unsung hero at tight end in Cade Otton, who has become a reliable presence at the top of the depth chart over his two seasons in the NFL.

A fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft out of Washington, Otton has steadily improved over the past two years, and could be on the verge of a breakout performance in this third campaign at the pro level.

“His durability has been outstanding,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles recently said of Otton. “We’ve called on him a lot as a rookie. It’s hard to believe he’s only a third-year guy coming up. His durability has been outstanding and he’s had different coordinators each year, so his ability to adapt and learn… He’s had different coaches, it’s not like he’s had the same position coach or had the same offensive coordinator. So, to learn different things and tweak his game to fit what we needed him to do is outstanding.”

Otton’s production hasn’t been the kind of stuff that fantasy football managers will rave about, but he’s made some key plays in clutch moments for the Bucs over his two seasons. That figures to continue in 2024, even as Tampa Bay breaks in a new offensive coordinator in Liam Coen.

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2024 Buccaneers offseason preview: Tight end

The Bucs’ tight end room could use some strengthening in the offseason, but will Tampa Bay bolster it with needs looming elsewhere?

No position group has received less attention on the Buccaneers roster in the past two years than the tight ends. With greater needs at other positions, that pattern is unlikely to change in 2024.

Since the departure of Rob Gronkowski at the end of the 2021 season, the Bucs have spent minimal free agent money and modest draft capital on tight ends. The addition of Kyle Rudolph in in 2022 was less than impactful, and veteran Cameron Brate was a shell of his former self. Both struggled to stay healthy enough to get on the field, much less make a difference on it.

When Tampa Bay drafted Cade Otton in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, he practically became their TE1 by default, taking 66% of the offensive snaps to Brate’s 29.2% and Rudolph’s 6.5%. Otton entered the 2023 season as the starter and was perfectly adequate, catching 60 of 86 targets for 610 yards and five touchdowns in the regular season and playoffs.

Unfortunately, “perfectly adequate” was the ceiling for the Bucs’ tight ends in 2023. Ko Kieft, also a 2022 Bucs draft pick, is not an NFL-caliber receiving option and 2023 fifth-round pick Payne Durham rarely ran a route. All three tight ends struggled in run support and were not often used as pass blockers.

There is little question the Bucs offense would benefit from an upgrade in tight end talent. The problem is the Bucs have too many other glaring needs to truly dedicate resources to improving the group.

This year’s rookie tight end class is thin from top to bottom. Georgia TE Brock Bowers is easily the best prospect in the class, but he will be long gone by the time the Bucs are on the clock late in the first round. Tampa Bay might have a shot at Texas TE Ja’Tavion Sanders or Ohio St. TE Cade Stover on Day 2 of the draft, but taking either would mean forgoing bigger needs and value at edge rusher, inside linebacker, safety and along the interior offensive line.

There are more options at tight end in free agency, but whether any of them represent a true upgrade is dubious. PFF’s Brad Spielberger named Patriots TE Mike Gesicki as a potential fit for Tampa Bay. However, Gesicki is notorious for being a “receiver-only” tight end. He adds nothing as a blocker which appears to be a driving factor for the tepid interest in his services.  Gesicki is two years removed from his best seasons with the Dolphins and was relegated to minimal roles in Mike McDaniels’ first season as head coach and with the Patriots last year.

If the Bucs entertain any free agents at all, they will likely target inexpensive value signings, a hallmark of Bucs general manager Jason Licht as of late. Former Broncos and Eagles TE Albert Okwuegbunam flashed in Denver in 2021, but injuries and team dysfunction derailed his career. He could be a low-cost, low-risk signing to reinforce Tampa Bay’s tight end depth.

Expectations for any significant moves at tight end in Tampa Bay should be low. Licht tends to value a draft and develop strategy over splashy free agent signings or blockbuster trades. Otton’s improvement as a receiver in 2023 will likely keep him the starter in 2024 while Kieft and Durham will get their own opportunities to prove their long-term viability. At most, a more or two at the fringes of the tight end depth chart will make for some training camp intrigue and preseason hype.

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