A Contract Night
January 3rd, 2026
Showed up when needed most.
You heard of a contract year? Cade Otton had a contract night.
Before the season, the Bucs had their starting tight end, Cade Otton, take to the podium, like most starters will at some point during the offseason or training camp. There, Otton admitted his agent and the Bucs had not seriously talked turkey about a contract.
Otton’s contract expires after the Super Bowl.
Otton also noted he wasn’t sure if the Bucs really wanted him back. He was interested in returning but he knew it takes two to tango. Besides, he said, there was a time to worry about a contract and a time to worry about football. Football came first.
Unfortunately for Otton, he had an awful year, despite tying his career high of 59 catches. Bad enough where “this Joe” has doubts if Otton will wear pewter and red in 2026. He was used more as a blocker early on because of injuries to the offensive line. When the offensive line got healthier, Otton began to get more involved in the offense.
But his play deteriorated. He had brutal turnovers on the road at Detroit and at Los Angeles that helped turn games into losses. Then he fought the dropsies. Ugly year.
Tonight, in what could have been his final game with the Bucs, broadcast on national television, Otton had what Joe called a “contract game.” Some guys have a contract year where they blow up to get their bag.
Otton blew up Saturday night. He had 7 catches for 94 yards and a touchdown.
Otton caught a 22-yard pass early followed by an 18-yard touchdown catch. Finally, Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard disregarded his horizontal offense and sent Otton deep for a change. And Otton delivered for a change.
Otton may or may not be with the Bucs when they gather for OTAs in April. But at least tonight, he proved to the nation at large that when used right, he can be a weapon in the passing game.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:45 pm
The only guy who didn’t have glove issues
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:46 pm
I like the guy, but he has been frustratingly inconsistent. I think he has potential, but one game is hard to earn a contract on. At least as a starter.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:49 pm
FLUSH TOILET BOWLES
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:49 pm
The GOAT was an old fart QB living a charmed life. All the Bucs needed to win that SB was a competent QB who didn’t turn the ball over. With Brady, they got a bunch of headaches. His salary cap hits, demanding Gronkowski out of retirement. Bucs didn’t need him, they had TEs. His marital problems and leaving the Bucs to go see his pal, Kraft, marry a trophy wife. Then one game he pulled a temper tantrum and walked off to the side line and slammed an iPad to the ground. Antonio Brown, seriously? How his LV team doing? My big bitch is I havenot seen a OC use this offense to its full potential. Grizzard throttled them. Neither Canales nor Coen did it either.
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January 3rd, 2026 at 8:50 pm
Omg I hope not.
Don’t let the door hit you IMO.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:54 pm
Sounds like KC is going to be looking for a TE in the off season. They certainly are a team that knows how to use one.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:56 pm
Bucs still need to upgrade at TE. Nice game for Otton.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:58 pm
Who cares. He’s been playing horrible all year. His blocking sucks and usually drops at least 1 ball a game, maybe even 2. Need a big upgrade there because Otton is probably 25-32 best starting tight end in the league. He’s had every chance but hasn’t been good enough
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:59 pm
Otton was about the only bright spot on an otherwise boring offense. Watching the Eagles in their first quarter their team speed was so much higher than the Bucs I was amazed. Had not watched the other NFL divisions this season. Safe to say the Bucs will not go far in the playoffs if they do sneak in.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:07 pm
Orlbucsfan, didn’t you just complain about negativity on this site on another thread? You might need a break from this site.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:09 pm
Cade is like Rachaad – an important clutch performer when called upon. It would be wise to keep both if possible.
We have MANY positions that need attention more in the draft or with trades imo.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:16 pm
NOOOOOOOOOOO
Cade sucks. GTFO
This guy stinks. A loser on a losing teams.
No thanks. Pass. No more Licht specials
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:17 pm
U gotta stop. Come on. The guy is slow, average blocker and rarely has YAC.U gotta stop.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:17 pm
If Trask would have started tonight, the Buccaneers win by 45
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:19 pm
Personally, I’d bring back all of the offensive skill players (except for Shepard).
O-Line and defense should be the focus in trades or draft.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:30 pm
Agree with @Tom Petty.
K.I.S.S. And we don’t need to spend anything better than a day 3 pick on a TE if we have to replace Otton.
Can’t afford that this draft, we may need an OG or an actual C that can swing both interior spots and be an emergency backup for Barton.
Two ILBs(at least)
Rueben Bain jr
A twitchy slot WR w/speed
QB we could bring along, but raise the level of talent in that room
It’ll be interesting to see if we tag anybody as well.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:31 pm
He’s the perfect encapsulation of the Buccaneers:
Mostly mediocre, flashes every one in a while to give you some hope, but constantly gets pushed around and out-physicaled, and is always at risk to bobble a ball straight into the defenders’ lap.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:34 pm
Yah, o line and dbs especially.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:41 pm
Cade Otton had the best statistical season of his career while playing in Liam Cohen’s offense. Bet he signs with Jaguars this offseason.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:43 pm
Great night for Cade but he was getting the ball very late cause no one else was open. Where the hell were our “great” wideouts? We have 4. Baker held the ball far too long and looked indecisive but made plays. He was very fortunate on a few of those.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:44 pm
Except for the last pass that moved the chains at the end. TD pass was good too
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:45 pm
Rbs and receivers are pretty good. Qb was inconsistent all season. Dbs were weak. Linebacker only so so. Bucs no longer have a dominate defense and a mediocre offense.
Hard to make the playoffs if you struggle to score points and struggle on pass defense.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:48 pm
I agree with you Joe …….. CO 88 deserves a contract. What a great football player !! Cade and Baker work very well together!!
Go Bucs
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:10 pm
/////////////////BSBS///////////////////
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:30 pm
And he seemed to get to the sticks on third down and not two yards short. Tonight was the night I thought he would have all year. Deer Jason, please don’t over pay for another average player “ Just to keep the team together.” You have more holes to fill than just a tight end.
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Offer him a Vet minimum to mid level starter contract for TE. He’s earned that.
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:47 pm
It really depends on who you replace Otton with.
I prefer keeping him as a #2 TE if the price is right…..either draft a stud TE or find a FA….
The same with Rachaad White….I think he provides great value and you need several RBs….
I think our offense is fine…just needing a big-a$$ blocking & catching TE.
Load up at Edge, LB, Dline on D.
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:50 pm
Cade Otton makes a really good backup TE
The Bucs need a solid all- around TE
January 4th, 2026 at 1:24 am
“Awful year” and “play deteriorated”? Dude was the only consistent member of the offense. The int against Detroit was unlucky and the bobble against LA was not good.. but that same thing happened to Travis kelce and CMAC this year. It happens. Otton has been the safety valve for the Bucs offense. The O line has been all over the place personnel wise, receivers constantly hurt all season, and Cade picks up the slack. The slander of him is insane around here. Look at any play this season where cade isn’t 4 looks deep in the progression and his production is off the charts. I’m telling you if he goes elsewhere he will absolutely shine.
January 4th, 2026 at 4:40 am
Cade is a lot like dave Moore , not a burner but if used as an outlet he usually
catches the ball and fights for the first down. He does a lot of the dirty work , blocking and is a target in the red zone. Baker has faith in him and I am happy to see he made up for some previous mistakes in this game.OHh and by the way a similar pass between to the fumble turned Int between two defenders also ended Chris godwin’s
season against the Saints. Bad things can happen with this type of pass. It sets the receiver up for a vicious hit from two different directions.
January 4th, 2026 at 4:40 am
Otton had a great night. He and Baker clicked. Have to remember, Cade has had I think four OCs. Some players can overcome the changes quickly and some not so quickly.
January 4th, 2026 at 6:48 am
Otton is a keeper. He needs to be resigned and a new OC will make a huge difference.
January 4th, 2026 at 6:50 am
Bowles should be fired by 5:00pm today.
January 4th, 2026 at 7:33 am
Bucs usually keep three or four tight ends. Getting rid of Otten would expose uor backups.
January 4th, 2026 at 8:03 am
No, your post didn’t appear because it was filtered out automatically for foul language, just like about 200 comments per day. –Joe
January 4th, 2026 at 8:49 am
Getting Brady and bringing Gronk out of retirement was a mistake? HMMMMMM.
January 4th, 2026 at 9:31 am
Good game Otton!
January 4th, 2026 at 9:31 am
@joe – see lots of cuss words allowed. How do you decide ones that get allowed?
Joe doesn’t have a complaint department. If you actually find curse words in the comments, Joe will be happy to delete the posts.–Joe
January 4th, 2026 at 1:34 pm
I love Otton. Not the most athletic but I disagree with Joe. Check the stats. He had less drops then EE yet no one was calling EE about it just Otton and the Detroit game Otton got robbed on a terrible call by the refs like mostly every other game except yesterdays. I hope we resign him but also let’s get him a mate. White is dangerous wasn’t used by grizz like the rest of the offense. The draft and FA should be heavily focused on the defense
January 5th, 2026 at 10:23 am
@Joe. To be clear I wasnt complaining about cuss words. That was your reason for deleting a post I sent that said “ a$$”. You deleted it under the guise of “ foul language” when we both now you deleted it because it disagreed with your article that day. My point was that I see posts with curse words that you leave in, because they havent disagreed with your article/comments in any way. Let’s move on…