Mark Schlereth Names Cade Otton As Top Free Agent
March 2nd, 2026
Valuable?
Yeah, Joe guesses one could call former Redskins and Broncos offensive lineman Mark Schlereth old school.
Back when the three-time Super Bowl winner played in the 1990s, tight ends had to block at least 50 percent of the time and had to be just as good a blocker as they were as a pass-catcher.
To that end, Cade Otton is what Schlereth calls a real tight end. Schlereth is not fond of the glorified wide receivers that now dot the NFL landscape playing the tight end position. So on his podcast, “Stinkin’ Truth,” Schlereth said Otton is one of the top soon-to-be free agents. Why? Because Schlereth likes how Otton is a willing blocker and isn’t horrible at it.
Otton “I think is a phenomenal football player,” Schlereth said. “He’s a football player. That dude, to me, gives you versatility duality that I want in that position.”
Joe goes back and forth on Otton. Joe wants a weapon at tight end. Otton really isn’t that, though he is servicable. Maybe Otton could be a weapon if he were used the right way. He did have a couple of sweet plays catching the ball downfield for explosive plays. Maybe he should have been targeted with deeper throws more often?
Otton is an OK blocker. He has improved. But he’s not a particularly beastly player. And those two ghastly turnovers last year Otton had against two formidable teams on the road, Detroit and Los Angeles, absolutely killed the Bucs.
Yeah, yeah, both plays should have been blown dead. But for crying out loud, hang onto the ball!
The Bucs can do better but Otton is a valuable glue guy. He’s a class act, that’s for sure.
Joe talked to CBS analyst and draft guru Emory Hunt at the combine last week and Joe brought up Baylor tight end Michael Trigg as maybe a Bucs target on the second day of the draft.
Hunt loved the suggestion. He, like Schlereth, sees value in Otton. Hunt said that if the Bucs would use a two-tight end set with Otton as the inline tight end and Trigg stretching the field, the Bucs would be cooking with gas, especially with their receivers.
So Otton may have suitors next week when the free agency dinner bell rings on Monday. Will the Bucs keep him or maybe land Kenyon Sadiq in the first round of the draft at No. 15?
Or, could the Bucs do what Hunt suggests, re-sign Otton and then go get Trigg on Day 2?
@markschlereth Free Agent that’s on my wish list! #NFL #football #broncos #tampa ♬ original sound – STINK
March 2nd, 2026 at 8:23 am
I’ve said this before… if we can get Cade for 3 x 21M, 7M avg, I’m in, good value. Anything over that, let him walk. We have to save somewhere.
March 2nd, 2026 at 8:41 am
Otton is worth keeping. Good team teammate who does what the team requires. Not really great at anything but solid with all. Wouldn’t let the drop/takeaways last season be a factor. Those looked like fluke plays.
March 2nd, 2026 at 8:42 am
Otten had those 2 turnovers that were big last year, but his hands have always had problems. He seems like he drops a couple passes each week and those passes are very catchable. He’s an ok blocker as well and when you combine both things I don’t see a giant hole if he leaves. If he does stay…. Someone buy him some good gloves!
March 2nd, 2026 at 8:48 am
He cant block. Simple. The fact that he needs Payne Durham or Godwin in the slot to help him set an edge shows that. I like Cade, good locker room dude, but there’s no way he should make any more than 5 or 6m a year. Let someone else pay that. Id like to see what Culp can do with an expanded role
March 2nd, 2026 at 8:48 am
Otton falls somewhere between adequate and decent. He has been as consistent and reliable when called upon for more receptions. I believe the lack of use especially near the end zone is why he will leave. Maybe go somewhere they don’t change the OC every year. Wish him well but we can do better. I like the 2 TE sets with our OL. Definitely like to see what Culp can do.
March 2nd, 2026 at 9:17 am
If they don’t have a plan to upgrade, re-sign him. Not my favorite. Drops a few. Does not dominate in blocking or as a pass threat.
But every man on the roster cannot be a superstar.
March 2nd, 2026 at 9:21 am
From the minute I started watching this team in 2023, I’ve been super impressed with every single part of Otten’s game. He plays more snaps than I’ve ever seen any TE play. Look it up. Toughness off the charts. Schlereth is right “he’s a phenomenal football player”. “may have suitors next week”. Joe. He will have suitors next week. Look for it to be from really good teams, teams that know what a phenomenal football player looks like. Pay Cade whatever it takes to keep him.
March 2nd, 2026 at 9:22 am
OLDSCHOOL1976 Says:
“Maybe go somewhere they don’t change the OC every year.”
I hate that this is a thing. Every team is threatened with instability because coaches can be poached.
There needs to be a fix…maybe require other teams to provide written offers, and original teams have the right to match salary offers? A right of refusal for a second year?
It sabotages every team the way it currently is.
I personally think if a coach has served less than 2 years one a 3 year contract, other teams should have to get permission to make offers.
March 2nd, 2026 at 9:24 am
Cade has trouble blocking, but is money on third down and is not afraid to get hit after the catch. Bucs need to keep him. BTW, I don’t believe he was used correctly last year, but that may because the Oline was decimated….
March 2nd, 2026 at 9:26 am
I love Cade Otton, and even the best have drops (Mike Evans year two).
I think Cade does well in blocking, but his real threat is as a pass catcher. The problem is that he gets fewer opportunities because we are so stacked at WR.
When he is consistently thrown to, he’s capable of close to 1,000 yards.
March 2nd, 2026 at 9:55 am
“He cant block. Simple. The fact that he needs Payne Durham or Godwin in the slot to help him set an edge shows that. I like Cade, good locker room dude, but there’s no way he should make any more than 5 or 6m a year. Let someone else pay that. Id like to see what Culp can do with an expanded role”
“Cade has trouble blocking, but is money on third down and is not afraid to get hit after the catch.”
Where the hell are you two getting this erroneous information from? Cade has been progressively getting better as a blocker for the last 3 seasons.
Finished 2023 with a 51% win rate as a run blocker, to finishing 74.9% win rate as a run blocker this past season on 303 blocking reps. Even in those 303 blocking reps, he blew a grand total of 10 reps which is 3.3% of his work in that specific area.
Even if Cade does leave, some within this fan base won’t know what we’re missing until the next guy is in here stinking at blocking. Sadiq/ Trigg/Enderies, none of these guys are ready made to block NFL DEs/OLBs at all. They’re basically Tanner Hudson-esque players.
We drafted Cade who had a reputation for being a good in-line blocker UDub, it just took time for it to translate to NFL talent. The other 3 I mentioned, aren’t coming out of their respective programs with the reputation of moving people off the LOS like Otton did.
March 2nd, 2026 at 9:55 am
Mr reliable Cade Otten
Need 12 yards? He will guarantee to catch and fall down 11 yards down field
March 2nd, 2026 at 10:18 am
Wayne Kerr. We all saw that one play where he caught it a yard short of the sticks. Otten was at the line to gain, he had to dive backwards a yard to catch the ball that Mayfield threw a yard short of the sticks.
March 2nd, 2026 at 10:26 am
Liam Coen loves Otten. You guys all love Coen. The bucs don’t get better by letting good players leave
March 2nd, 2026 at 10:37 am
The Bucs aren’t spending a first round pick on a TE. They have much more pressing needs at much more important positions.
I think they do draft a TE at some point after the 1st round, it just depends on how the board falls.
March 2nd, 2026 at 11:01 am
Cade had TWO drops last year. The only reason to get rid of him would be to trade his presumed $7-$8 million for a rookies deal
March 2nd, 2026 at 11:09 am
Again, Joe still on his belief that Cades freak drop lost the Rams game. Geez, it must be weird not having another thing to write about on the topic of Cade. They could have beat us by 70.
Dont waste a pick on TE at 15
Trigg? We have a faster version on our current roster .
Resign Otton for up to $7M per year x 3 yrs. Use Payne, Devin , and Ko to their strengths. 3 of those guys cost $1M a year. Spend money on defense.
March 2nd, 2026 at 11:41 am
Cade was 4th in the NFL in routes run by TE (by far the most by a blocking TE), yet ranked 69th in targets per route ran. Someone complaining about his production needs to explain that to me. That’s just an insane disparity.
Also… Joe seems to ignore the fact that “ghastly turnover” in the lions game was basically a 50-50 ball way out in front of him. He’s supposed to hold on to a ball with one hand when the defender is getting there at the same time with 2? The dude had 2 drops this entire year. For you numbers guys, here’s a quick list of TEs with more drops:
Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, Kyle pitts, Colby Parkinson, Evan engram, Zach ertz, Brock bowers, Dallas goedert, Tj hockenson, Trey McBride, …and the list goes on.