Justin Peelle: Cade Otton Is A True Pro
May 19th, 2026
Professional.
There aren’t a whole lot of players who would have happily sacrificed their numbers in a contract year. And Bucs tight end Cade Otton may have sacrificed money in order to help the Bucs win.
Last year, Otton ranked 20th in the NFL in target percentage for tight ends (targets per passes thrown). But there was one possible reason for that. The Bucs’ offensive line was ravaged by injuries.
Joe can’t recall seeing a Bucs offensive line that had only one starter (center Graham Barton) play the whole season.
Just two weeks into the season, the Bucs were down three starters (Tristan Wirfs coming off surgery, Cody Mauch with a blown knee and Luke Goedeke with a bum foot).
Because it was a full-blown emergency, the Bucs needed Otton back to block and help keep Baker Mayfield in one piece.
Joe asked Bucs tight ends coach Justin Peelle last week if Otton being “neutered” to help block held Otton back from being used more as a weapon.
Peelle wouldn’t fully go there — in part because Joe used the word “neutered” — but yeah, Peelle said, Otton was held back to block “maybe a little bit.”
But, Peelle added, that’s where the Bucs needed him. And Otton didn’t have one cross word to say about it, which added to the respect coaches already had for him.
“[Otton] had no issues doing it,” Peelle said. “But that’s what we needed to do, right? That we felt, as a coaching staff, that was our best opportunity to win some of those games, was to do that.
“[Otton] never said anything [about his blocking assignments]. He was fine with it. I mean, he’s the ultimate, ultimate team player and will do whatever is asked.
“Sometimes you got to. That’s the way football goes sometimes.”
In 2024, Otton’s target share of passes thrown was 19 percent, 14th in the league. That’s when the Bucs’ offensive line was mostly healthy, as was Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan.
Last year, Otton’s target share dropped to 15.9 percent, 20th in the league. However, Otton ranked fourth in the NFL in total routes run for tight ends, per Sumer Sports, so perhaps he just didn’t get open enough or wasn’t seen.
Joe sure would like to see Otton used more on deeper passes. He had a helluva catch in Seattle for 27 yards when Mayfield rolled to his left and found Otton down the left hashmarks.
Otton has the ability to stretch the field a little. Joe hopes Zac Robinson utilizes that skill.
May 19th, 2026 at 5:17 am
You can count on that. Robinson is just like me. He loves a tight end.. And Twice on Sundays!
May 19th, 2026 at 5:39 am
If he’ll do whatever is asked, will he be wearing gloves this year?
May 19th, 2026 at 5:39 am
Good pro but he can’t fight for that extra yard.
May 19th, 2026 at 6:09 am
I’ve seen Otton fight for that extra yard many, many times (and win). Even seen him hurdle a guy.
May 19th, 2026 at 6:27 am
Unfortunately, he’s being remembered for having the ball stripped out of his hands. He played his butt off when Evans & Godwin were out, though. Happy he’s a Buc, but he needs to make up for that one play to get everyone back on board.
May 19th, 2026 at 6:27 am
Unfortunately, he’s being remembered for having the ball stripped out of his hands. He played his butt off when Evans & Godwin were out, though. Happy he’s a Buc, but he needs to make up for that one play to get everyone back on board.
May 19th, 2026 at 7:04 am
Offon and Gainwell will have big years with this offense.
May 19th, 2026 at 8:30 am
He has genetic roots in football ?
May 19th, 2026 at 8:36 am
Orton needs a big year to justify his new contract. He’s not a talented blocker and reason his targets were down, because we had to take him off the field. He needs to study Gronk film and learn how to like the nasty part of the job. Get physical on the line with the DE, it drops the LB into coverage and opens the flat where he will have more opportunities. It starts at the line and he almost always tries to avoid contact. It’s just my observation, clearly we didn’t have another TE we were happy with so he got another contract, now go earn it.
May 19th, 2026 at 9:14 am
Otton = JAG
Orton = Wrestler
May 19th, 2026 at 9:24 am
Cade Otton only had 6 more targets in 2024, than he had in 2025
I really don’t see the purpose of resigning him
We need an upgrade at TE, but Licht loves his draft picks
May 19th, 2026 at 9:24 am
@Cardiac⬆️, my gosh, do you watch any of our games ?
1. It’s Otton, not Orton
2. He hardly EVER comes off the field
3. He doesn’t design his own routes, if he isn’t supposed to go in the flat, he can’t just go there.
4. Sometimes avoiding the DE is to get to a block on the next level( a LB or DB). You can’t just block who you want to.
Good grief…..
May 19th, 2026 at 9:26 am
Funny, when I watched Robinsons press conference I thought to myself, who was it that asked that dumbazz question using the word “ neutered”? Thanks for clearing it up.
May 19th, 2026 at 10:04 am
“Cade Otton only had 6 more targets in 2024, than he had in 2025
I really don’t see the purpose of resigning him”
Cade has been a break glass in case of emergency target since ’23.
Hardly ever used intentionally, until a WR gets hurt and then he’s catching all types of passes over the middle giving up his body. Grizz was running TE screens with him after Mike went down in Detroit.
What are we upgrading the 3rd most used skill position on offense for? For a position we use as a 6th blocker, to fufill some fantasy of having the next Jeremy Shockey?
May 19th, 2026 at 10:13 am
Helpfully Otton gets past the sticks and holds on to the ball this year…he’s solid…nothing special
GO BUCS!!!!
May 19th, 2026 at 11:37 am
2023 I started my Bucs fan journey. Watched every game. Somebody may check me on this, but I believe Cade Otten played the most snaps for a TE in the history of the NFL. Everyone misses blocks. But Otten was as vicious and tenacious a blocker as any. Caught a bunch of tough passes and was selfless and all about winning. 2024 and 2025? More of the same. He’s the most underrated player on the team. Once we win enough to get a little TV time, folks will get to see that Tampa has one of the best TE’s in football.
May 19th, 2026 at 1:33 pm
Motion. Injury. Held back for blocking.
Joe answered 3 huge mysteries today. Good work.
May 19th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Use his properly and he can be a weapon. When coen was OC and both Evans and Godwin went down Otton put the offense on his back. Hes not the fastest or the quickest or runs the best routes or is the best blocker but the dude is steady eddy. He does just enough to make a diff. Get him to hold on to that ball and use him properly and this dude shines. Steady eddy baby
May 19th, 2026 at 3:14 pm
I’m with coach Peele, there were many other words besides neutered you could have used to ask your question that weren’t gross. Not everything is about the peñis weirdo.
May 19th, 2026 at 3:32 pm
For once | agree with Lakeland.
May 19th, 2026 at 7:49 pm
Licht is a good man.
He is also rewarding him for his past play with a 1 year 10 million dollar deal.
Otton has taken some really hard hits over the years.
And he just had a baby.
This last contract was also a thank you to Otton for sacrificing himself for the franchise.
I think we will let him walk next year and use a 2nd round pick on an elite TE next year.