Cade Otton On Pace For Career Highs In Routes Run, Catches
November 11th, 2025
“Just keep doing what you’re doing, Cade.”
No NFL tight end runs more routes per game this season than Cade Otton, the only Tampa Bay tight end to catch a pass this season.
Otton has the league lead at a whopping 35 per game, a sniff ahead of workhorse Trey McBride in Arizona, per reputable Sumer Sports. Official NFL Pro data has a slightly different number, but regardless, Otton is on pace for career highs in routes run, per the NFL and Sumer Sports. He’s also on track for 66 receptions. That total would be a career high.
Folks at One Buc Palace were pushing the notion that Otton was staying in to pass block so much early this season that he couldn’t catch a pass. OK. Got it.
Otton is marching toward a fat contract when his runs out in a few months. The guy has been such a durable and versatile performer that Joe’s not sure how the Bucs could make sense of throwing Otton to the curb. He’s a solid starter, and the Bucs don’t have one behind him.
Otton also has a career high catch rate of 72.9 percent to date.
Back-to-back Bucs picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, Rachaad White (third round) and Otton (fourth round) are angling for offseason contracts. Joe would say Otton is winning that battle through nine games.
November 11th, 2025 at 4:10 pm
I hope he gets a great contract. That catch Shepard messed up for us was really nice.
November 11th, 2025 at 4:43 pm
OTTON’S PACE FOR THE SEASON… 66 CATCHES FOR 666 YARDS — AND ZERO TOUCHDOWNS!!!
THE DEVIL IS AT WORK HERE!!!
November 11th, 2025 at 4:47 pm
Back-to-back Bucs picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, Rachaad White (third round) and Otton (fourth round) are angling for offseason contracts. Joe would say Otton is winning that battle through nine games.
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I’m not sure I agree with that. While I like Otton, he’s been given a ton of chances and has pretty middling production. A pace of 666 yards over 17 games isn’t very good for a guy who has had that many routes – in addition to the fact he’s not a very good blocker still. If he’s going to get big money from someone, I’m not sure it will be the Bucs.
As for White, he’s still one of the best blockers on the team, and does a lot with bad blocking and playcalling. But the big thing is that outside of the tippy top of RBs, they’re pretty cheap, and he might only get like $3-4M a year. Maybe someone comes in with a big offer, but RBs rarely get those nowadays. Out of the two, I’d think White comes back – but it wouldn’t shock me if both come back.
November 11th, 2025 at 4:55 pm
He’s dependable but you see that he isn’t a difference maker. He doesn’t get downfield and most of his catches are check downs. Not saying he isn’t a reliable target but he doesn’t have the quickness that most starting tight ends have. I also think he doesn’t have the catch radius of other tight ends. When we play Buffalo you’ll see the difference between an elite TE like Kincaid vs a good TE like Otton. Those guys get open quicker. Goedard on the Eagles is another TE that is just more open than Cade is. Bucs need a tight end that can get separation in the end zone, Otton doesn’t help Mayfield when the Bucs are in that red zone area. He isn’t a big body guy that can box out like Kelse and other larger tight ends.
Again he is a good football player excelling beyond his talent but it’s tough to overcome the limits of a guy’s height, catch radius and quickness playing that position. I would let some other team sign him and pick up a vet that is a proven TE that can beat man coverage and make catches in jump ball situations and end zone.
November 11th, 2025 at 5:08 pm
Let both walk. They won’t be missed.
November 11th, 2025 at 5:19 pm
Got a middling TE? Better have him lead the league in routes run! And to hear the Bucs tell it, this guy is a Gronk level blocker. I haven’t seen that.
Too bad Grizz can’t figure out how to THROW the ball to White, since that & pass blocking are the only things he excels at. Let’s just run him up the gut on first down again though, I’m sure he’ll break one soon.
November 11th, 2025 at 5:24 pm
Uh oh… rod used the term “middling” again. Certain now that otton is on his way to the pro bowl😎
November 11th, 2025 at 5:24 pm
Shepard can pretty much be depended on for one horrible stupid penalty per game.
I like Rashaad, but I am really tired of watching him running into the back of one of his lineman instead if going 1 step to the right or left and picking up a few yards. Drives me crazy.
November 11th, 2025 at 5:40 pm
dbbuc711 Says:
November 11th, 2025 at 5:24 pm
Shepard can pretty much be depended on for one horrible stupid penalty per game.
I like Rashaad, but I am really tired of watching him running into the back of one of his lineman instead if going 1 step to the right or left and picking up a few yards. Drives me crazy.\
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LOL! That’s literally what Tucker does, not White.
WOW.