Cade Otton Becoming More Involved In Bucs’ Passing Game
October 12th, 2025
Beginning to get more targets.
Prior to Week 5, no team in the NFL targeted tight ends less than the Bucs — percentage of passes thrown.
Joe asked Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard about that two weeks ago and he said the tight ends were not targeted that much, in part, because he held them back to help block.
That was because the Bucs’ offensive line was ravaged by injuries. But now that the ine is beginning to stabilize, the tight ends are being targeted more.
Case in point was last week in Seattle. Otton was targeted five times and caught four, both season highs. So it was Otton’s best day receiving, his 81 yards more than tripled his previous season high of 25 yards.
Grizzard spoke about targeting Otton and tight ends last week.
“It’s something we’ve been trying [to do] – get Cade the ball a little more over the last couple weeks and it just didn’t happen [earlier],” Grizzard said. “It was good to see [in Seattle].”
Grizzard lauded Otton for being selfless and doing whatever coaches want him to do. Often this year, Otton was staying back and blocking rather than getting catches.
“The patience he’s had and his selflessness helping in some of the protection things” was great, Grizzard said. …It was good “to see the ball get to him and have some really explosive plays that were critical for us in the game,” Grizzard said. “He’s done a really good job with that.
“Typical Cade – whether he was getting it or wasn’t getting it, he’s still operating the same way, practicing the same way. It was really good to see.”
In the first couple of Bucs games, there were times that Otton got key blocks to open a crease for Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield to scramble for a first down. Since the Bucs won their first three games in one-score games, those blocks Otton threw to help spring Mayfield were critical.
“Cade [is] just a trustworthy guy, completely selfless,” Mayfield said. “He really cares about winning. He has always been like that; he will do a lot of dirty work.
“I have told you guys he does not get a lot of credit for it. [In] our key games, he has been a huge difference maker, whatever role or capacity he has, and he is willing to do it.”
Otton, true to his nature, seemed to shrug it off. Otton looks at it as he’s getting paid to do a job and if his responsibility in a particular gameplan means blocking, well, that’s his job for that game.
“It is fun when you have the ball in your hands,” Otton confessed last week. “I just enjoy playing football in general, whether it is blocking in line or on the edge or whatever it is.
“If I get the ball, that is great, if not and we win, that is great too.”
Otton sort of reminds Joe of what former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter called a “glue guy.” A glue guy may not be a star but he’s critical to a team’s success because he does his job well even though it may not be flashy or sexy..
Koetter described former Bucs defensive tackle Will Gholston as a glue guy. Joe thinks the same label could be applied to Otton.
October 12th, 2025 at 1:45 am
Koetter had the buddy blind spot, like Tdod. Mike Smith retired without telling anyone and Dirk refused to fire his friend until it was too late. Magoo? Anyone?
Koetter also had Jameis playing at his career best in terms of protecting the ball. I was sad but Jason made the right move to fire Dirk and hire BA.
October 12th, 2025 at 6:51 am
“Glue guy” is the very first thing that came to my mind.
Shep is another glue guy who can ride the pine when all the starters are healthy but can come in and play like a starter when called upon. Plus he and Baker obvously have a connection that goes back to their college days.
I think the Bucs are starting to develop several glue guys in the DB’s. They move around from inside to outside from CB to safety. Todd seems to enjoy flexibility in his DB corps.
October 12th, 2025 at 7:03 am
A “glue guy” needs to be following Otton around in the sideline and reapplying coats of glue to his hands until Otton decides to wear gloves.
October 12th, 2025 at 7:13 am
He used to wear gloves, found he was more efficient without them
October 12th, 2025 at 7:41 am
Excellent article Joe. Thanks.
October 12th, 2025 at 8:25 am
Otten Eeeka and Shepard today.
October 12th, 2025 at 9:31 am
Otton has great hands and he’s had them since his rookie days. These glue guys are the quiet players like Will Gholston, Otton and others. They do their homework, work their behinds off, and let their play do the talking. I second DR. Good read, Joe.
October 12th, 2025 at 9:32 am
It never hurts to make the opposing D think about him as a potential threat! And if they don’t, make them pay!! Get it done!!
October 12th, 2025 at 10:27 am
Personally, I’ve felt Otton needed to get the ball more. He’s proven it’s worth it.
But I get the need to have him block when the OL is injured.
October 12th, 2025 at 10:41 am
I see some fans have their rose coloured sunglasses on early this morning. From this very website in December of last year: “FOX Sports data says Otton has 8 drops this season(2024), which is most among tight ends and tied for third-most in the NFL.“ He has 1 drop on 16 targets this year, so the jury is still out.
I’d like to understand how that’s “efficient” or “great?” Listen drops happen, but when you lead your position in those types of mistakes AND openly refuse the one thing you can wear to improve your catching ability, the knives are out. I hope he improves, he had a great game last week, but he’s not off notice yet.
October 12th, 2025 at 1:50 pm
It’s good to see #88 out there making significant receptions again like last year !!
I believe Cade Otten will be one of the difference makers in today’s game against the 49ers !!
Go Bucs !!