Cade Otton’s Curious Social Media Post
February 24th, 2026
On the same day the Dixie Chicks let it be known they plan to use the franchise tag on free agent tight end Kyle Pitts, did the Bucs make headway in re-signing their free agent tight end?
With the football world descending upon Indianapolis for the combine, which is the NFL’s winter carnival, it is common for agents and team suits to talk shop while devouring a steak and enjoying a cocktail at St. Elmo’s or some other high end downtown eatery.
So it was interesting to Joe that late Monday evening Bucs free agent tight end Cade Otton posted on Instagram four photos with the caption, “Can’t wait to see what the rest of 2026 brings.”
In the post, Otton has eight photos. Half are of Otton with his wife, child and dog, the other half are Otton in his Bucs uniform (one with just Mike Evans and Otton in the photo).
Is Otton giving Bucs fans a clue he’s returning?
Joe finds it a bit odd if Otton was leaving the Bucs, he would reference the future wearing Bucs gear.
Boy, these NFL players sure like their cryptic messages.
February 24th, 2026 at 12:41 am
Licht keeps resigning his own crappy players. Unless Tom is coming back…these guys are losers.
February 24th, 2026 at 1:03 am
I feel like Cade’s had what seems to be up and down seasons but really his usage has been what fluctuates. He’s a better blocker than he was a few years ago. He’s not the most sure handed and really isn’t a mismatch but when included in the passing game plan has been pretty productive. We certainly don’t have his replacement so I’m open to being him back.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:21 am
Oh no what are we gonna do without his 30 drops a year?
February 24th, 2026 at 4:59 am
Buccintimeforchanges Says:
“Licht keeps resigning his own crappy players. Unless Tom is coming back…these guys are losers.”
Cade Otton is not a crappy player. He may not be top ten yet, but he’s solid. 2025 was odd because he was used mostly for blocking. We had an injured QB, and on the few occasions the ball was thrown to him in 2025, it wasn’t accurate as a result.
February 24th, 2026 at 5:10 am
Bring them all back, and expect a different result. Just have to coach it better, play it better. Can’t wait for David’s news conference after he resigns where he says he has plenty left in the tank while Licht, and Bowles shake their heads in agreement like a couple of bobbleheads. Bucs are out to prove last year was a fluke. They aren’t really an 8-9 team, they’re a 9-8 team! Go Bucs!
February 24th, 2026 at 5:52 am
Bonzai needs to STOP GASLIGHTING
Bucs had the 13th most targets to TE in the NFL with 81 and almost all were to Otton, so NO Otton was not primarily a blocker. PFF rated Otton 57th out of 75 TE’s in the league and his metrics were below average for blocking and pass catching.
TE Free Agents like Isiah Likely or David Njoku are better at blocking and pass catching-so sign a better option Jason Licht.
February 24th, 2026 at 6:08 am
I knew it. Media types will stalk a players social and take a picture/post and call it “cryptic” lol just myob, that’s why it’s cryptic
February 24th, 2026 at 7:04 am
LOL “mind your own business” despite a player doing something in a very public forum. 😆
That’s like cranking Ozzy Osbourne in your backyard for the whole block to hear and when a neighbor asks for you to turn it down, you holler, “Mind your own business!” 😆
February 24th, 2026 at 7:16 am
Todd … ‘Bucs had the 13th most targets to TE in the NFL with 81 and almost all were to Otton, so NO Otton was not primarily a blocker.’
Found an interesting stats site at SumerSports that broke down TEs’production for 2025. Combining that with other sources (like Pro-Football-Reference), it’s easy to get a decent picture of how Cade Otton performed in 2025.
o Games Played: 16
o Offensive Snaps: 993 (93% availability)
o Routes Run: 543
o Targets: 81
o Catches: 59
o Catch Percentage: 72.84%
o Yards: 572 (263 YBC … 309 YAC)
o TDs: 1
o 1st Downs: 25
Cade had the 4th most Routes Run (543) of any NFL TE (only McBride, Kelce & Pitts had more). However, he was well down the list in terms of receiving yards (572) & TDs (1), as well as in Targets Per Route Run (14.9%). IOW he wasn’t very effectively used.
Can Zac Robinson do better? Well, I noticed that Kyle Pitts (who was just franchise tagged by the Falcons I believe), was targeted 118 times in 17 games (over 45% more than Otton), caught 88 and put up 928 tds, 5 TDs & 51 first downs … in 961 offensive snaps. Kyle ran almost exactly the same number of routes that Cade did (549 vs 543) BUT … he was targeted much more. Looks like Robinson knows how to use quality TEs.
February 24th, 2026 at 7:43 am
Say what you will about Otten good or bad , in between. There is plenty for all 3 scenarios, however, currently there is no one to replace him and the depth at the position is thin. So my thoughts, how do you not sign him at this point
February 24th, 2026 at 8:36 am
Todd
If you were gas lit before wait until I drop this…
Depending where you look on 81 targets Otten had 1 or 2 drops. He’s easily top 15 at his position. I would rank him personally 12 to 15 but that’s just an opinion. The fact of the matter is that he has a solid 72-73% catch rate and his drop stats werent as bad as you thought they were. You are free to look this up as I did. PFF has good insight as well as other sites.
February 24th, 2026 at 8:45 am
Everyone needs workhorses, even in everyday jobs! On a team with several prima donnas, we could use more players like Otten on Defense. There were many times he stepped up when the entire WR room was injured. I’d take him over Pitts because Pitts seemed to only step up in a contract year.
February 24th, 2026 at 9:13 am
“LOL “mind your own business” despite a player doing something in a very public forum. 😆”
Lazy and unoriginal at best, the only thing that’d be worse is if you used AI to write this article 😭 or you tried to sell it like an exclusive report lol
Scroll X and there’s like 15 people making the same exact post about a post. Some go as far as following spouses, cousins, and barbers for these alley-oops.
February 24th, 2026 at 9:48 am
Just please don’t over pay for the guy. 8mil tops. Draft a guy or see what Culp can do.
February 24th, 2026 at 10:02 am
Culp has had 2 springs, 2 fall camps, 2 full seasons to show what he can do on the practice field so that the coaches play him. He has been game day inactive quite a bit. Obviously there is something missing there. Many in here are enamored with his speed. Straight line speed running a 40 yard dash at a combine with no pads on and no ball being thrown to you doesn’t necessarily make you a great tight end.
February 24th, 2026 at 1:21 pm
Yeah Otton is great and that is why PFF had him ranked 57 out of 75 with below average metrics blocking and receiving. Otton is the second coming of Tony Gonzalez and Travis Kelce combined, you guys are soooooooo funnnnnnnnnnnny
February 24th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
@Todd ⬆️hopefully you realize PFF grades are given by subjective guys who don’t understand the assignment. Most probably sitting in mom’s basement praying she hasn’t changed the Wi-Fi password. They have no clue what someone is “ supposed” to do on the play, therefore cannot grade it accurately.