What Jason Licht Didn’t Say About Drafting Tight Ends
April 15th, 2026
Bad predraft news conference for Payne Durham and Devin Culp.
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht addressed various Bucs media today at his annual predraft news conference.
It was noted to Licht that the Bucs have been studying tight ends more than usual this offseason, including top-30 visits at One Buc Palace. And as part of this long question about tight ends, Licht was asked whether he’d like to find a stretch-the-field tight end because Cade Otton is more of a traditional tight end.
Licht responded with the obvious. But Joe was far more interested in what Licht omitted.
“This year’s draft has a lot of tight ends, so we just wanted to do our due diligence and get to know them as much as we can, just like we do most positions,” Licht said. ” So yeah, it would be great to add a tight end to the roster that [stretch-the-field] element that maybe some of the others don’t. We’re happy with our group right now, but we’re just doing our due diligence.”
After studying Licht for 12 years, Joe expected Licht to say something like, ‘I disagree with the premise that Cade Otton can’t stretch the field. We’ve seen it.’ Or, Joe thought Licht would start talking about how Payne Durham is weapon ready to break out, or how Devin Culp has that great speed and needs more chances to show the explosiveness he delivers in practice.
That didn’t happen.
Licht accepted the notion and said it would be “great” to add a more dangerous tight end.
Very interesting.
April 15th, 2026 at 4:29 pm
Pushing the narrative so some team ahead of us in the draft will take Sadiq and push a better defensive player down to 15. He’s not taking a TE until at least the 5th round as there are waaaay too many holes to fill. Don’t believe anything anyone says the last days before the draft especially Jason “Brasswell” Light
April 15th, 2026 at 4:29 pm
Hey Joe you think it could be Sadiq interesting?
April 15th, 2026 at 4:32 pm
nope – Licht trades down for a C/G – he’s that dumb
April 15th, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Does ‘stretch the field’ imply he’s really fast but can’t block? Because we already have one of those
April 15th, 2026 at 4:44 pm
So Licht decided to pay Cade Otton $10 million per year
Just to watch another TE stretch the field, while he blocks for them
That don’t make sense, none of this TE talk makes sense
The Bucs will draft a defensive player in the 1st round
Probably CJ Allen
April 15th, 2026 at 4:45 pm
One thing I’ve learned since becoming a Bucs fan is that Baker Mayfield is a dink and dunk QB. He can barely get the ball 10 yards down the field with any accuracy at all. So how does it make sense to find a tight end who is gonna stretch the field? Licht knows this. He’s bluffing. Let’s draft 7 hungry defensive dogs and this season we can dink and dunk our way to a championship.
April 15th, 2026 at 5:04 pm
Thats a lot of dink and dunks for over 12,000 yards in 3 years! UGH! Beer is good…
April 15th, 2026 at 5:15 pm
Licht also said they were happy siging Browning and bringing Bazelak back when asked about Qb depth. After Í wiped the tears of laughter away, I heard the same due diligence deal in regards to that.
If you’re interested in everybody, nobody knows who you’re really interested in
April 15th, 2026 at 5:26 pm
Culp can stretch the field if you play him
April 15th, 2026 at 5:29 pm
He’s putting out more smoke than the Vatican!
April 15th, 2026 at 5:33 pm
He was turned off by the sniff.
April 15th, 2026 at 6:24 pm
Joe really wants Sadiq..that’s pretty obvious.
JL said he likes their TE room.
JL would accept the notion that it would be “nice” to add an all pro level CB, Edge rusher, LBER, Guard, DT..heck he would rightfully say the same for most positions.
They aren’t drafting a TE in round 1…let it go.
April 15th, 2026 at 6:44 pm
Well there’s a number of fast catch first TE’s this year, but they’re mostly TE in name only as they’re just big WRs. But I do agree, there are a number of options out there.
As for the Bucs depth chart…
Otton – clear #1 as a legit TE, not a great blocker, but better blocker than almost every TE in this class. Otton is a very good receiver, but isn’t all that fast. Sort of like a more athletic Brate.
Kieft – Your dedicated blocking / h-back style TE. I hear other people say he’s not a guarantee to make the team, but I don’t now how. He was missed big time last year, and unless the Bucs take anther guy who can play this role, he should be a lock.
Durham – big, slow, lumbering, middling blocker, very good hands but can’t get open due to lack of speed/quickness. If the Bucs draft a speed TE, then Durham probably sticks around.
Culp – fans are way higher on him than the team is. He was a 7th round lottery ticket, and the fact he’s stuck around this long is actually a very good showing. But if the Bucs do draft a speed TE, which seems likely, then he might be the odd man out. But, who knows, as a developmental TE, it certainly wouldn’t be uncommon for him to take a couple of years to finally be ready to play. But odds are he won’t be on the team if they draft someone (although he could still stick around on the practice squad as a vet player).
April 15th, 2026 at 6:56 pm
I wouldn’t mind another TE if he’s noticably better than what we have now. We obviously need defense, but we may have to rely on simply outscoring everybody more than stopping anybody. For that reason I don’t have any specific positions we might attack in the first round. My wet dream would actually be Jeremiah Love.
April 15th, 2026 at 8:48 pm
Munch is spot on that yhe majority of these guys, Sadiq included are mostly big WRs. If they want a bigger TE who has some juice, Michael Trigg would be a good opinion the 3rd round. Guy has a 7ft wing span and is someone who can stretch the middle.
Im not against adding a TE, just not at 15 with a guy who is 6’2 or 6’3″ and only had one productive year in college. Not when that means passing up a possible really good LBer, Edge, CB or guard.
April 15th, 2026 at 10:18 pm
Draft someone who is a great cook, he can get into Coich’s good graces that way.
April 15th, 2026 at 11:06 pm
@3.28⬆️ great point re coaching and I agree. Cade is solid but really hasnt progressed much. Durham had a good 2nd year under Coen and I remember several big catches he had at Indy and NY Giants where he had guys draped over him and he made leaping contested catches ( saving Baker from getting an INT) and Culp shined under Coen and flashed his big play potential. All 3 regressed big time under Grizzard. Big time. And now, we want to add another TE. Coaching matters. I wish our Head Coach knew that.
April 16th, 2026 at 2:08 am
Yeah theres an element that Durham is in his last year. Culp is not used at all, Kieft is a special teams guy, so you have ole reliable Otten on a new deal, a rookie, Kieft and Durham for one more year. Culp probably on practice squad I can see TE. I mean no one except Joe saw Egbuka coming, I only thought maybe only because of Joe. If I wasn’t a daily visitor I would have been flabbergasted last year.
April 16th, 2026 at 8:47 am
I love all the pre-draft theories, with pundits and media with their wild takes. Licht is full of misdirection before every draft and continues to fake Joe into reading between the lines for a story. Fun stuff!
I can see Licht trading down from 15, and picking up an all-round TE in rd3 or rd4. Licht fooled me last year, taking EE, and he’ll probably fool me this year.
April 17th, 2026 at 3:04 pm
Oscar Delp 3rd or 4th round. Ran a 4.47 at the combine and can block.