The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to be a busy team this offseason. How they will be operating with so many decisions to make is anybody’s guess though. Still, one name that has surprisingly circulated through the ranks has not been Mike Evans or Lavonte David. It has been tight end Cade Otton.
While Cade Otton is seen by many as an important piece for the Bucs in the long run, that hasn’t slowed a lot of interest from teams wishing to pick him up in free agency. Among them are the Super Bowl runners-up New England Patriots.
The New England Patriots themselves are expected to have a bit of a dilemma at the tight end position, what with Austin Hooper set to hit free agency. According to the Boston Herald, Cade Otton is seemingly the perfect replacement. For the Pats, it would be all about bolstering their tight end room that already has Hunter Henry in it and also will allow them to open up new avenues offensively out of two tight end sets.
Why the Patriots See Otton as a Smart Fit
Another reason why the Patriots are tempted by the traits of Otton is that he could come on the cheap. Other options such as the Ravens‘ Isaiah Likely could be a tad more expensive and since the Patriots are set at the TE1, they may not be willing to take a big swing on someone who will be a TE2.
At 26 years old, Otton is also the optimal glue guy, who will be willing to do the dirty work for the offense, as well as provide a security blanket for the QB. Over the past two seasons, he has eclipsed over 500 yards receiving and has proven to be a reliable target for Baker Mayfield. However, with the Patriots, he could be assuming a bit of new role.
The Boston Herald writes that the “Patriots will sign a Y (blocking) tight end and draft an F (receiving) tight end, given the availability of both types of players in free agency. Behind Hunter Henry, No. 2 option Austin Hooper will hit the open market again after a middling season”.
What It Means for Tampa Bay’s Future
If Otton is going to succeed in the Patriots’ offense, he is going to need to become a bit more of an all-around player. Chances are the Patriots want a more physical tight end to block at the point of attack and help out the O-line, which faltered down the stretch.
For Otton, it may be a bit of a culture change, but his rapid ascension with the Bucs proves that he has the skill set to handle certain assignments and be a competitive player elsewhere.
While the Bucs may want to keep him, chances are they have already started looking at other options. Kenyon Sadiq out of Oregon comes to mind and could be someone much cheaper down the line than Otton. Still, losing someone who was thought to be a franchise player could be painful for a lot of Bucs fans in the long run.
Buccaneers Tight End Emerges as Option for AFC East Contender