Gregg Rosenthal Catches Flak For Cade Otton Love
March 4th, 2026
High ranking unpopular.
Apparently, across NFL fandom, it’s not wise to be a Cade Otton fan.
Gregg Rosenthal of the podcast “NFL Daily” is finding that out. In his recent Top-101 free agents rankings, which was updated Tuesday at NFL.com, Rosenthal has Bucs tight end Otton as the best tight end entering free agency next week.
And that’s not a very popular choice among NFL fans, as Rosenthal explained while appearing on the “Ross Tucker Podcast.”
(Tucker’s series of football podcasts may be the best collection of pure football chatter available on any podcast platform.)
“I did get a lot of feedback that having Cade Otton over Kyle Pitts — who’s going to get tagged anyways — and Isaiah Likely. They were all in my top 20. But basically, having Otton that high was maybe the most consistent pushback that I got.”
So why is Rosenthal so high on Otton? Basically, Rosenthal believes Otton is a solid, dependable tight end who is scheme-diverse.
Here is what Rosenthal typed about Otton in his rankings:
Welcome to Cade Otton Island, where you can run any offense you want while never giving an inch in the run game. In our growing two-tight end world, every NFL team needs an Otton.
Rosenthal added to his Otton breakdown briefly for Tucker.
“But man, I think he’s a really good player that allows you to do everything that you want as an offense,” Rosenthal said.
As Joe has typed, Joe is torn on Otton. He’s not overly physical but he’s a willing blocker. He doesn’t really stretch the field but he can on occasion. He doesn’t have the best of hands, but he’s usually reliable (but those ghastly turnovers, yikes!).
Joe guesses Otton is the vanilla ice cream of tight ends. Ice cream is always good and vanilla is better than no ice cream and it gets the job done. But one can improve on vanilla.
Otton is solid, not great, not really physical and not flashy. Maybe the Bucs look at him and the rest of the weapons on the team and think they don’t need a dynamic tight end — when they have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Tez Johnson and Bucky Irving.
Provided the Bucs can re-sign Evans.
March 4th, 2026 at 11:36 am
“As Joe has typed before, Joe is torn on Otton. He’s not overly physical but he’s a willing blocker. He doesn’t really stretch the field but he can on occasions. He doesn’t have the best of hands, but he’s usually reliable (but those ghastly turnovers, yikes!).”
Our offense doesn’t stretch the field, so idk why that’d be a knock on Cade. It’s not a question of whether we can or not, it’s why don’t we use him in that fashion.
Everybody wants a move TE that can be 3rd/4th receiving target, but serves little to no purpose as a 6th OLmen.
It’s wild seeing that sentiment from a fan base that literally had one of the best in-line TEs to ever do it and actually caught TDs in our most recent super bowl, while also blocking his butt off all season.
March 4th, 2026 at 11:52 am
Otton is garbage not bad for where he was drafted but still
March 4th, 2026 at 11:58 am
Otton = JAG
March 4th, 2026 at 12:02 pm
I remember Otton having one good game last year, the last one. I’d say he’s average, definitely not somebody I’d give big money to.
March 4th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
His refusal to wear Gloves is a big part of his dropsies and turnovers
March 4th, 2026 at 12:11 pm
I thought Groundhog Day was in February, but here we are. Joe writes the exact same article for the 20th time. Geez. If this were a basketball game we would hear the horn go off and sub in another writer. Good grief.
March 4th, 2026 at 12:11 pm
Otton is a good player and worth keeping at the right price. He is a smart hard-working player that is VERY dependable. He is no superstar but is a solid contributor. Simple as that.
March 4th, 2026 at 12:13 pm
Money needs to go elsewhere.
Tampa has been just fine at TE for the last 10 years between Brate, Gronk and Otton. 10 years and it cost us a 3rd and a 4th.
We saw what a 1st buys in OJ Howard, from what I read, Sadiq isn’t on the 1st round level like Loveland and Warren were last season.
Sign Mike and draft a TE in round 5 after the front 7 has been addressed early and often. Durham, Culp and a rookie can do the job, which should be mostly blocking. Our starting TE should be 5th or 6th on the target leaderboard with all the other weapons. We know Culp can stretch it and catch, let him do it if you wanna involve the TE.
March 4th, 2026 at 12:22 pm
And if you were running a team-centric football site you’d go dark for weeks at a time and lose money. Good grief.
Rosenthal did not publish his piece on Otton until yesterday. He didn’t appear on Ross Tucker’s podcast until yesterday. How exactly did Joe cite Rosenthal’s work and pod appearance last month when the two just happened in the past 24 hours? Good grief.
If Joe had a time machine, he wouldn’t be screwing with NFL offseason news and instead get lottery numbers for the future. Good grief.
March 4th, 2026 at 12:39 pm
Bucs will mistakenly let Otton go and regret it for years to come, mark my words here.
March 4th, 2026 at 1:17 pm
Otton is one of the only free agents on this team worth re-signing. Evans is too at the right price and contract structure. This team has too many needs and holes on defense to let a solid player like Otton walk away without trying to sign him.
The over/under for games played by Evans and Godwin respectively is probably 8 or 9 a piece, and Godwin doesnt score TD’s. Coen was able to patch game plans together that featured Otton when those two were out, hopefully Robonson has that same ability and also won’t ignore every other TE on the roster like Grizzard did.
Theres only one team and defense in the NFL that makes Kyle Pitts look like an All-Pro, and thats the Todd Bowles Buccaneers. His stats would drop dramatically if he were to play for the only team that can’t cover him.
March 4th, 2026 at 1:27 pm
If you need 7 yards, Otton will somehow manage to get 6 1/2. No doubt he’s a good blocker, but absolutely no one is afraid of the guy. He is a solid C-C+ grade TE. Nothing more. Someone is going to pay too much for him.
March 4th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
“If you need 7 yards, Otton will somehow manage to get 6 1/2.”
Ya’ll say this like he’s throwing the ball to himself short of the sticks lol
March 4th, 2026 at 2:14 pm
So much grief
March 4th, 2026 at 2:16 pm
Cade Otton had 59 catches for 600 yards and scored 4 touchdowns in 14 games in 2024.
He had to block all year last year. He is a team first workhorse. So was Cameron Brate.
From the Bronco’s Mile High Report: (they are definately interested)
In four years with the Buccaneers, Otton has appeared in 63 games with 58 starts. On 300 career targets, he notched 207 catches for 2,018 yards and 11 touchdowns. A concern with Otton has been drops with 17 across four seasons. However, last year he improved significantly in that regard and only had one on 81 targets.
March 4th, 2026 at 2:18 pm
[Would you rather have Joe lie about Otton and make up crap about Otton because that would be different and, as that fraud Colin Cowherd would say, “interesting?” Or should Joe not write anything about Otton at all other than to type “Cade Otton signed today… ?” What Joe wrote about Otton last month and today remains true and won’t change — Joe has mixed feelings about the guy. Joe is not going to lie to please anyone, sorry. Additionally, if Joe writes “drivel” as you suggest, why are you then reading it? — Joe]
March 4th, 2026 at 2:19 pm
WBL
He did make 25 first downs last year. Yes he had the two oopsies but only one drop all season.
March 4th, 2026 at 2:21 pm
Since the other one got nerf’d
From the Bronco’s Fan website:
In four years with the Buccaneers, Otton has appeared in 63 games with 58 starts. On 300 career targets, he notched 207 catches for 2,018 yards and 11 touchdowns. A concern with Otton has been drops with 17 across four seasons. However, last year he improved significantly in that regard and only had one on 81 targets.
March 4th, 2026 at 2:53 pm
Otton is a below average TE catching and blocking , sign Likely and upgrade the position significantly , errrrrrr I mean if you want to win a super bowl man or just stand pat and wonder why you keep coming up short.
March 4th, 2026 at 3:26 pm
“He did make 25 first downs last year. Yes he had the two oopsies but only one drop all season.”
@One of the Gator Bois
I didn’t say that as a knock on Otton. I was implying this stupid meme some have posted on here about Cade needing X yards and only coming up short. Very aware of Cades’ reliability, especially when Mike and/or Chris miss games and he automatically starts getting force fed by Uncle Rico.
100% in the camp of bringing Cade back at a reasonable enough price, and not using draft captial on any of these slow WRs with little reliablity as run blockers.
In fact, I think it’s about time to start putting Payne & Devin to use, even if it means taking Tez off the field, who got more action under Grizz tant those two combined.
March 4th, 2026 at 3:33 pm
lol. @Joe. You’re right. I will just sit patiently and wait for Fridays article about Cade having 2 drops last year and ruining our season, single handedly losing the Rams game, and keeping us out of the Superbowl. How many times you talk about Evans dropping TDs? Not much, if at all. I’m glad you’re still not sold on him. Others are. And those that are should have the same ability to challenge your thoughts without editorial repercussions. But, I digress.
March 4th, 2026 at 3:47 pm
He’s ok, he comes through when you need him to.
March 4th, 2026 at 4:33 pm
If we don’t have our eyes on a good FA or draft for TE, sure, keep him. Bur he is a #2 TE.
March 4th, 2026 at 5:22 pm
But one can improve on vanilla.
———–
That is a lie. Vanilla bean is the ultimate flavor.
March 4th, 2026 at 5:33 pm
Vanilla sucks
March 4th, 2026 at 5:37 pm
Vanilla is just fine. For ice cream. And for the life of me I can’t figure out why anyone thinks we shouldn’t stretch hard to keep Cade Otten. I’d bet Baker would stand way out on a limb to keep him. So would the entire OLine. And the receiver corps. And the new OC. I’m thinking that we’ve gotten as good or better chance of keeping Cade as we do Mike.
March 4th, 2026 at 5:38 pm
got
March 4th, 2026 at 9:02 pm
A Chiefs article suggests that Otton would be a good choice to back up or succeed the (semi-)retiring Kelce. No word from Taylor Swift.
March 4th, 2026 at 9:41 pm
Cade has previously demonstrated himself as an offensive weapon of value. He’s a teammate that can be relied upon to give it his all. He had a tough ’25 season along with the rest of the guys.
Let’s hope that the coaching shakeup gets things moving again!
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ve got to look to the ’26 season positively!
March 4th, 2026 at 10:26 pm
If you want to punt on 4th down or go for it around midfield, keep Otton. He will almost get the line of gain on 3rd. It doesn’t help when Mayfield throws it at his feet and backup lineman can’t block. Generic low fat freezer burnt vanilla ice cream.
March 5th, 2026 at 12:05 pm
I’ll say it again. Otton was 4th in the league in routes run by a TE but only 69th in targets per route run. It’s a disgrace how the bucs used him. Can’t find the numbers but id be shocked if he had more than 4 or 5 red zone targets all year… INSANE considering his snap count.