“Doesn’t Need To Flash To Get The Cash”
April 18th, 2025
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
Big year for a big man.
Cade Otton
Cade Otton has done a nice job since the Bucs selected the 6-foot-5 tight end to open the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft. He set career records with 59 catches and 600 receiving yards last season, ranking second to Mike Evans in both categories.
Now Otton seeks bigger numbers as he approaches a year that will shape his next contract, either in Tampa Bay or elsewhere.
A willing blocker, Otton stepped up his game markedly when Evans and Chris Godwin were injured in Week 7. In the following three games, Otton had 25 receptions on 31 targets and caught three of his four TD passes.
“The ball started to find him — and it was fun to watch,” said Bucs tight ends coach Justin Peelle.
Otton appears to be a blue-collar complement to Baker Mayfield, a solid teammate and a trusted target in tense situations. Otton was on the receiving end of perhaps the single biggest play in Tampa Bay’s 2023 season.
The Bucs limped into Atlanta at 5-7 before Otton grabbed an 11-yard scoring pass from Mayfield with only 31 seconds remaining in a 29-25 comeback victory.
Although Otton’s hands need improvement, he’s a solid route runner who doesn’t mind catching balls in traffic.
“He’s a special player that is so smart,” Mayfield said. “He knows where to be, he knows exactly what we’re trying to get done within whatever scheme we’re calling. You add in the physical traits he has and he’s able to showcase those.”
The Bucs would take Otton over half the tight ends in the league right now and they think his upside is substantial. He’s the first tight end in franchise history to catch at least eight passes in three consecutive games and he’s looking to cash a bigger check in 2026 after playing for a base salary of $3.7 million this season.
In their 50th year as a franchise, the Bucs are hardly recognized as a haven for prolific tight ends. Jimmie Giles and Cam Brate rank 1-2 in career catches and receiving yards at the position, but Otton is creeping up, despite starting only 11 games as a rookie and missing the final three weeks of the 2024 season with a knee injury.
Currently, Otton ranks No. 6 in career receptions by a Buc tight end. He needs 71 catches this fall to pass Kellen Winslow Jr. for third place.
He’s also eighth in career receiving yards at the position, only 290 yards away from the No. 5 spot behind Giles, Brate, Ron Hall and Winslow.
Otton dropped a team-high eight passes last year, but when the ball is secured in his hands, he isn’t easy to bring down. Otton’s 311 yards after the catch were only 30 yards shy of Travis Kelce, who played in two more games.
As the draft approaches, Jason Licht has no reason to consider tight end a position of urgent need. Payne Durham and Devin Culp are the young backups behind Otton. When the Bucs drafted Otton in 2022, they were preparing for Rob Gronkowski’s potential retirement, which became a reality a few months later.
While Otton is never going to generate comparisons to Gronk, he’s carving out his own legacy in Tampa. Most importantly, he has earned Mayfield’s confidence.
If Otton continues to ascend, it’s hard to imagine the Bucs allowing him to test free agency next March.
He’s a big part of a stellar draft class that includes Luke Goedeke, Zyon McCollum, Rachaad White and Logan Hall. Buc coaches are convinced Otton hasn’t come close to hitting his ceiling.
There’s serious money to be made if the Mayfield-Otton connection reaches new heights. Otton doesn’t need to flash to get the cash — he just needs to continue his assault on the franchise record book.
April 18th, 2025 at 6:47 pm
Love Otton…..but Culp and Durham are coming this year !!!!
April 18th, 2025 at 7:23 pm
Also love Otton, but I agree with above… I think Culp might be the in house replacement. Not sure what he showed blocking, but his hands looked terrific in limited action.
I’m sure he has been asked, but if Ottons hands are the worry, why doesn’t he wear some gloves?
April 18th, 2025 at 8:46 pm
Culp and Durham are developing well. I really like our TE group, and throw in Ko Kieft – who apparently has really soft hands but so far has freaked out in game situations and forgets how to catch.
Speaking of Giles, if he were playing in today’s NFL, he’d be a superstar and potential hall of famer. What a player.
April 18th, 2025 at 9:12 pm
If Colston Loveland falls to 19, I wouldn’t mind him being the pick. The Raiders showed what a stud TE can do for your offensive. Otton is sufficient as starter, but not great. And we lack a good backup anyway, so Loveland would make a ton of sense. It would be BPA since this team has no real holes.
April 18th, 2025 at 11:07 pm
With CG14 coming back healthy, hopefully, it will be hard for Otton to get a share of the targets. Peele improved his blocking last year, so now Cade has to improve his concentration holding onto the ball.
April 18th, 2025 at 11:23 pm
I’ve seen comments here that a weakness of Otten is his blocking. Sage you nailed it “A willing blocker” and might I add a tenacious and ferocious blocker. I didn’t see him drop 8 passes. Each of the last two years I’ve seen him make game winning passes. The guy is definitely a part of this team we don’t want to lose. I hated losing Hainsey and Skule.
April 18th, 2025 at 11:26 pm
I meant catch, not make
April 18th, 2025 at 11:42 pm
I agree whole heartedly that Culp is a Diamond in the rough.
That speed is special and it should be used more on seam routes.
Durham is sure handed.
We shouldn’t touch TE.
April 19th, 2025 at 1:06 am
Keift is tough and hardworking.
But he’s a liability. I see him miss blocks and tackles on special teams a lot!
He’s got a great story. And I’d love to keep him a 4th TE.
But Culp is clearly better than Keift.
Keift whiffs on blocks as a HB/FB all the time.
Culp actually has a great HB/FB body.
Culp has huge legs like Wirfs. He’s only 6-3, which helps him get lower than Keift who his 6-5. Getting lower helps a FB make blocks.
Culp also runs a 4.4.
So we can line Culp up at HB like Keift, but let Culp run some wheel routes and screens.
Get Keift off the field on offense!
April 19th, 2025 at 1:59 am
Dang it Mr Ira you burst my mini bubble. He droped eight? Ouch! Juggs machine with the DBs after practice for you young man!
He improved his blocking by a bunch though and I feel like that was one key to our running game success.
Go Bucs!
April 19th, 2025 at 5:00 am
I like Otton. He reminds me so much of Brate. He surprises us a lot too. Comes out of nowhere to make a play.
April 19th, 2025 at 5:46 am
Cade has certainly shown his worth and value to the team, in my book.
He really came through last year while Mike and Chris were both out. It wasn’t perfect but he kept the chains moving and took some nasty hits that he bounced right back up from.
We’d be crazy to let him go.
Devin and Payne also showed promise in the little playing time they had. I think more reps and game time opportunities will show that they could both be diamonds in the rough.
Same with Ko. I don’t think he’s come along the way any of us would have liked to have seen by now. He misses assignments, but he has made progress each year, maybe just not as much as we’d all like to see.
April 19th, 2025 at 9:00 am
Was it just my impression we didn’t do much 12 last year? If like to see more scenarios with Durham and Culp on the field
April 19th, 2025 at 9:36 am
why are people talking about TE, WR, OL, or RB? the bucs need DEFENSE – period
i’m following all these idiots with mock drafts saying at #19 – WR. 2nd round OL, 3rd round TE. bucs need DB, ILB, Edge, DT. in whatever order they fall. 5th round receiver horton from colorado. post draft invites will produce at least 1 good prospect to keep – OL or TE. please get with the program