NFL Execs, Coaches And Scouts Disrespect Cade Otton
July 12th, 2025
“Just keep doing what you’re doing, Cade.”
It’s that time again, when Jeremy Fowler of ESPN systematically rolls out results of his annual survey of many dozens of league executives, coaches and scouts, an exercise to rank the best 10 players at each position.
Twenty-two tight ends got at least one vote from the 70-plus voters. Not one tight end was named Cade Otton.
That’s rough considering the Bucs’ starter ranked tied for 8th among tight ends in catches of 20 or more yards last season. Otton also ranked 14th in total receiving yards and 12th in catches.
Think about those Otton numbers — yet 22 tight ends got at least a vote in the top-10 survey.
Back on Dec. 9, before his late season injury, Otton ranked seventh in total catches (57), seventh in yards (576) and fourth in completions of 20 yards more.
Otton is now in his fourth season, a contract year. He’s a good player, a solid starter who probably could be a top-10 tight end with more targets and a little more respect for his blocking ability.
Joe would hope these survey results might light a fire under Otton, but that seems impossible.
Ira Kaufman Dives Into All Angles Of The Tristan Wirfs Setback, Talks Training Camp, Jameis Winston’s New Description Of Himself, And Much More
July 12th, 2025 at 6:36 pm
I’m surprised Otton’s stats were that good. It seems that the stink of the Bucs poor night game wins is hurting the national perception of Otton. I’d be curious to know Otton’s rank for TD catches??? Personally, I think Otton is solid. He can make some tough catches but also can drop some easy ones. I hope he balls in this contract year!
July 12th, 2025 at 7:39 pm
He need to improve his catch ratio
July 12th, 2025 at 8:00 pm
I hope he continues to get better over time. We don’t need any more mega contracts.
July 12th, 2025 at 8:03 pm
Lots of very good tight ends in the league right now…
Cade just shows up and does everything right day in and day out. He’s not (usually) asked to be target #1 for us or even #2 or 3 so I imagine that plays a part in the lack of respect.
He’s durable, tough, slick and versatile in his routes, makes tough catches and takes hard hits when needed. Happy to have him. Hell, I like Durham and Culp too. Not worried about that room, I think they’ll produce 👍🏼
July 12th, 2025 at 8:12 pm
If Baker didn’t target him a zillion times after #13 & #14 got injured he would be way down the list.
July 12th, 2025 at 8:13 pm
I have said time and again, the weak link in the offense is TE. We got spoiled with Gronk and want more of it. Watching the 49rs and KC one can see how truly effective a TE can be. They seem to be almost un-coverable in the correct offense. Otten was at the top of his game those games where both WRs were out. He needs to take plays away from the WRs if he is truly effective. They are rare but it’s great when you have one. Bucs don’t have a great one yet. It looks like the people that should know think he’s a long way off. I agree.
July 12th, 2025 at 8:14 pm
I also think Culp is going take off this year
July 12th, 2025 at 8:26 pm
Joe, have you ever asked the people at One Buc Place if they ever took part in Fowler’s (or any other) survey?
July 12th, 2025 at 8:47 pm
Cade has steadily improved every year. He’s a solid TE.
He really stepped up last year when Chris and Mike were both out.
If you watch the tape, he took some nasty hits on some of those plays and bounced right back up.
I think he’s better than he gets credit for.
I agree with GoneGator and Dewey Selmon.
Devin Culp could be a rising star. He’s got a serious set of afterburners on those long plays and made the most of his limited playing time last year.
Payne is showing a lot of promise too.
July 12th, 2025 at 9:12 pm
Cade Otton is one of the best tight ends in the NFL. He has made catches that 90% of other tight ends would drop. He has been hit very violently but somehow has been able to hold on to that ball. Additionally, I would bet his YAC is fairly high. When he has been in a situation where the defense was attempting to bring him down there have been times where he almost looks like a big running back keeping his legs moving all while taking hits from every direction. He should be used more. Especially on 3rd downs and end zones. Throw it up high and let him go up and get it where those 5-10 DB can’t go. Him and Mike should be playing “above the rim” on 3rd down.
July 12th, 2025 at 9:55 pm
Wow who cares what people say! Do you and don’t worry about it
July 12th, 2025 at 10:28 pm
Otton May be in a sweet spot where he is good enough that the Bucs want to keep him, but not so expensive that the Bucs let him walk.
My only real knock against Otton is that he doesn’t have that Gronk-Brady communication with Mayfield that says, “Oh, boy! They’ve loosed the blitzers! Let’s find a vulnerable spot where we can make them pay for it!”
If he can find those sweet spots – breaking up the seam, crossing behind blitzing ILBs, bending in behind blitzing DBs, or just taking a quick step past the OLB and getting set for a jump pass – he can really become a more dangerous weapon in the Bucs offense.
Ideally, the Bucs would extend him now for modest money with incentives in case he takes the next step. If they wait and he does take that next step, the money will go crazy and the Bucs won’t be able to afford him.
July 12th, 2025 at 10:36 pm
That’s OK, underestimate him and McMillan
July 12th, 2025 at 10:46 pm
Cade is a decent TE in the NFL. Top ten? No.
Why are we even debating this?
July 12th, 2025 at 10:50 pm
Kelce, Andrews, Kittle, Goedert, Likely, Hockenson, McBride, Laporta, Bowers and….wait for it…Otten.
One is not like the others. I love the guy and he has a great complimentary role on this team.
July 12th, 2025 at 11:43 pm
Hell of a 4th round pick – thats for sure.
Moving up for McCollum in the 5th that year was an even better selection.
GM Licht has been KILLING IT on day 3 ever since!
Day 3 from the last 4 drafts has yielded:
Otton(4), McCollum(5), Kieft(6) – Dennis(5), Durham(5), Hayes(6), Palmer(6) – Irving(4), Klein(6), Culp(7) – Walker(4), Roberts(5), Tez Johnson(7)
Thats 4 starters in 3 years – (Otton, McCollum, Dennis and Bucky) all from day 3 of the draft – and I’m excited to see what Walker, Roberts and Tez bring to the table in their rookie years….
Take a Bow Jason Licht!
July 13th, 2025 at 3:49 am
LOL Execs, coaches, and scouts again? Anoymous? Honest answers? Ask the LBs DEs, and DBs. Those are the guys who really know. BTW he was blocking alot better last year so ask them about that.
Go Bucs!
July 13th, 2025 at 5:13 am
@Pickgrin: “Take a Bow Jason Licht!”
IMO, you have to also give credit to Todd. I think Todd does an exceptional job of developing Licht’s draft picks. Further, I would be very surprised if Todd is not heavily involved in player selection. That would just seem like Licht’s style, to collaborate with the HC in drafting players.
July 13th, 2025 at 6:32 am
I believe having Grizz at OC will tremendously improve Ottons playing time and stats. Grizz, formerly a TE’s coach knows what Otton can do.
July 13th, 2025 at 9:05 am
Pickgrin
That’s an interesting list for sure and somewhere Bobby Beathard is smiling.
Besides the SB’s Beathard is known as a Maverick who traded OUT of the first round SEVEN times in his career.
Again with a father who was a bookie I appreciated Beathard’s logic. I’m sure you’ve all seen the chart with various valuation on the rounds by a point system.
Bottom line is if you’re a good poker players and get the right number of picks for that choice. Now for a fun exercise and look at what the Bucs COULD have done if they traded out of that #1 overall spot they wasted on Fameis.
Do the math, figure the amazing number and value of the pics, the possible players that would have been Bucs right now in their prime.
July 13th, 2025 at 9:51 am
Another vote here for Culp. I like Otton but Culp looks like he could be a steal.