Bucs’ TE Coach: Cade Otton Keeps Showing Up
May 20th, 2025
Tight end Cade Otton.
One has to be a bit of a film junkie to be an NFL assistant coach.
So this offseason, which is normal, Bucs tight ends coach Justin Peelle was poring over film to find ways to help his tight ends improve.
One thing consistently jumped out: Cade Otton. The starting tight end was hard not to notice, Peelle said. And it wasn’t just catching the ball.
Peelle said everything you want to see a tight end do, Otton was popped it on film. Blocking, getting open, catching the ball, you name it.
That is obviously a good thing. But then there is the bad thing: Otton missed the Bucs’ final three regular-season games with a knee injury.
Prior to the injury, Otton was having his best season in the NFL. He virtually carried the Bucs’ passing game after Mike Evans and Chris Godwin each missed four games with injuries; Evans nursed a bad hamstring and Godwin was lost for the season with a dislocated ankle.
Peelle also noted that so far this offseason Otton has picked up his quickness. Asked to elaborate, Peele said it is Otton’s game speed (practice speed?) that has improved.
Otton is entering a contract year after being the Bucs’ fourth-round pick in 2022.
Is Otton a top-shelf tight end? No, Joe wouldn’t go there. Middle of the road, sure. Maybe top-12. The Bucs could do a whole lot worse.
Joe is intrigued to see what Otton can do again, so long as he doesn’t take a nagging injury like he did last year.
May 20th, 2025 at 1:32 pm
I think we Bucs fans are spoiled by having Gronk and seeing one of the very best to ever play the position.
Obviously Cade is not another Gronk but who is Gronk right now? Kelce and Kittle are obvious leaders of the pack but Travis is getting long of tooth and will soon join his brother in retirement.
Maybe top 12? I think he’s already reached that stage. One thing that will definitely keep Otton from getting a ton of notoriety will be his lack of targets.
Simply too many mouths to feed!!! A half dozen WR’s, 3 of whom are Pro Bowl material, 2 running backs who are great catching out of the backfield..and then there is the competition at TE from Durham and Culp.
Cade is “sneaky” good! Doesn’t stand out but gets er done.
May 20th, 2025 at 1:35 pm
Hopefully the injury devil will bye pass the Bucs in 2025 season
Things can’t be as bad as last year.
GIDWIN will need time to acclimate after a very bad injury. Time for Ebuca be Godwin
May 20th, 2025 at 1:41 pm
The TE position is a spot that I don’t think anyone should worry about.
May 20th, 2025 at 1:54 pm
For 2025, I’d put Otton in the same range is Kelce…
But behind Kittle.
Tier 1
Kittle
Bowers
McBride
LaPorta
Hockenson
Tier 2
Kelce
Andrews
Otton
Njoku
Kraft
Smith
May 20th, 2025 at 2:05 pm
Stop trying to jump over tacklers
May 20th, 2025 at 2:08 pm
Geno711, I don’t like the Falcons either but I think Kyle Pitts is finally starting to produce and should probably be on that list. I’d really like to see LaVonte and our rookie Parrish meet Pitts and the ball at the same time on opening day and knock him off the list. Of course not hurt him but just leave him badly shaken up. For a couple of months or so.
May 20th, 2025 at 2:54 pm
Love Otton. He has improved every year and is going great for a 4th rd pick. Hes a team guy his blocking has improved his catching has improved. Joe you said it. He carried the team while ME13 and CG14 were out with injuring. That right there is why he is borderline elite. Hes in between above average and elite. Idk what you call it but if you can carry your offense while 1 future hall of famer is out and a pro bowler out also then your up there at your position. Not trying to puff him up but he’s better than most give him credit for.
May 20th, 2025 at 2:59 pm
Although Otton made many clutch catches last year, I seem to recall he dropped more passes than you’d like. His percentage catch rate in 2024 was ~68%. I’m not sure where that stands with other TEs, but hopefully, he can elevate that a bit this year. I want him to go from being good to being great, cause I love the guy as a person and a player!
May 20th, 2025 at 3:07 pm
Geno
That looks about right to me.
May 20th, 2025 at 3:26 pm
He’s a very good pass catching TE, but I don’t know if I’d agree about his blocking. Last year, when I focused on Otton, he was OK at times, but other times he’d get beat pretty badly. Said it during the season when rewatching the games with ALL22, Rachaad White stood out as a great pass blocker – while Otton got beat too many times, and would often be seen falling down on blocks for some reason. Now, with that said, I didn’t focus on Otton in every game, and the ones I remember were earlier in the year, so maybe it was just growing pains learning the new offense. But as a pass catcher, he’s a very good option and will get a huge contract from someone.
May 20th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
Ill Take Cade Otton over any nfl TE!
May 20th, 2025 at 3:59 pm
Interesting article, Joe. Now let’s talk about the back-up, TE.s In addition to Cade Otton, you have Payne Durham, Ko Keift, Devin Culp, and Tanner Taula on the Bucs roster.
With the logjam at WR this year, IMHO, the Bucs will keep only 3 total TEs on the 53-man roster plus 1 on the practice squad. Otton is the starter, and Durham is listed as the backup TE on the depth chart.
So, barring injuries, between Ko Kieft, Devin Culp, and Tanner Taula, who is the odd man out?
Kieft can be a blocking FB or H-back. Culp is fast enough to backup at WR, Taula is a decent blocker, but the Bucs may use a backup Guard as a blocking TE. Does anyone know about the special times prowess of these guys? It’s sure to be an interesting battle in camp. The odd man out is sure to be snapped up by another NFL team.
Opinions? Joe, let us know what you know and what you are seeing when practice starts.