The Bucs head into free agency this week with rather limited cash to spend. Based on the Glazers’ track record, the Bucs realistically have about $50 million available for re-signings and outside additions, unless ownership decides to open up the pocketbook a little bit more. That makes things tricky, as bringing back wide receiver Mike Evans and inside linebacker Lavonte David would mean allocating roughly half of those funds to two veteran players without moving the needle for the rest of the roster.

Could that mean 2026 is a year of change in Tampa Bay?

If Evans leaves and David retires, that would free up more money to spend on other internal and external free agents. Among them, tight end Cade Otton is one of the more interesting players whose future is in limbo. Otton has developed into a well-rounded blocker and receiver for the Bucs’ offense as a fourth or fifth option in the passing game who has made significant strides laying blocks for the run game.

What has been cause for concern is his contract projection, with a new deal being in the ballpark of three years, $32 million. With the defense needing help on multiple fronts, is there room in the budget to pay him $10.67 million per year? If he signs elsewhere at that price point or even a bit higher, it leaves the tight end room with just Payne Durham, Devin Culp, and perhaps Ko Kieft, who is also a free agent.

Regardless of how one might feel about them being able to step up, it should not be ignored that Durham has had minimal production as a receiver and really just serves as a blocking tight end. While Culp has flashed more receiving ability, it is worth noting that both Liam Coen and Josh Grizzard did not utilize the 2024 seventh-round pick more. Until proven otherwise, he remains third on the depth chart.

Assuming the Bucs want to allocate as many draft picks as possible to address the defense over a young, unproven tight end, which veteran free agents could be on their radar?

Bucs Could Still Make A Big Swing At Tight End

Browns TE David Njoku

If Cade Otton leaves on a deal too rich for the Bucs and a chance at a larger role, David Njoku is one of the bigger names who could replace him. Njoku’s time with the Browns has come to an end after nine seasons, as he battled through injuries in 2025 and was supplanted by rookie Harold Fannin Jr. At 29 years old, he is more of a receiving tight end, with his Pro Bowl season in 2023 sticking out when he had 81 catches for 882 yards and six touchdowns.

In the two seasons since, Njoku has averaged less than 10 yards per catch, a product of abysmal quarterback play in Cleveland and missing 11 games across that span. Although that makes him more of a risky signing, he does have a significant connection to Tampa Bay.

Former Browns QB Baker Mayfield and TE David Njoku – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Tommy Gilligan

He overlapped with quarterback Baker Mayfield from 2018-2021, developing a rapport during Mayfield’s rookie season. Injuries prevented Njoku from taking the next level after the 2018 season, but the familiarity he has with him works in his favor. Not as well-rounded of a blocker, he would not play a lion’s share of the snaps like Otton did with Payne Durham and Devin Culp likely working in.

Njoku would come in as a veteran looking to bounce back, currently projected to command the same three-year, $32 million deal as Otton. In that case, it makes more sense to keep Otton than sign him, but if his price came down because of injury concerns, he would be one of the best replacements Tampa Bay will find on the open market.

Ravens TE Isaiah Likely

While Bucs fans spent recent seasons clamoring for the team to trade for Ravens tight end Mark Andrews given his ties to Baker Mayfield, Isaiah Likely is a more realistic option for Tampa Bay instead. Likely hits free agency having yet to fully blossom into a starter playing second fiddle to Andrews, but that time appears to be coming.

Ravens TE Isaiah Likely – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Gregory Fisher

Turning 26 years old in April, he is about a full year younger than Cade Otton with similar receiving statistics despite starting just 26 games to Otton’s 58 games. Baltimore leaned on two-tight end sets to maximize the talent they had at the position, as Andrews, Likely, and Charlie Kolar formed the best trio at the position in the NFL in recent years.

For Likely, he did not quite have the contract year he wanted in 2025, recording 27 catches for 307 yards and a touchdown. That marked his worst statistical season yet, although he came on strong as a blocker with a career-best 66.5 run block grade, per Pro Football Focus. He is a true candidate to break out, possessing the talent to get close to the 1,000-yard mark at the tight end position. Pairing that with solid blocking skills, he is projected to land a three-year, $28 million contract in free agency that would be a bet on his upside.

Which Other Tight Ends Could Become Bucs Targets?

Ravens TE Charlie Kolar

Charlie Kolar is the name that would make the most sense for the Bucs in free agency, in my opinion. Kolar is only projected to command a one-year, $1.75 million deal. Even if that number grows closer to $5 million in a bidding war for his services, it lines up to be quite a bargain.

Ravens TE Charlie Kolar – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Denny Medley

Kolar has not had much opportunity to showcase his full skill set with the Ravens. The most offensive snaps he has played in a given season has been 40%, which he reached last year. He has had to earn every snap, doing so primarily for his run blocking prowess.

His 71.5 PFF grade in that regard was 15th-best at his position last season, and he has consistently laid key blocks for Derrick Henry in Baltimore. Yet to truly become a receiving option, he showed flashes with 10 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns in 2025. Nine of those 10 receptions were for first downs, and the year prior he had a 55-yard catch. That shows an ability to stretch the field and be a chain mover, with it being possible for him to provide similar production to Otton at a more affordable price point.

He is the least established name on this list, but he is the kind of value signing general manager Jason Licht is all about making.

Former Steelers TE Jonnu Smith

Jonnu Smith is only a full year removed from a 2024 season in which he had 88 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdowns for the Dolphins. That was one of the best years for tight ends at the position, netting the nine-year veteran his first Pro Bowl nod. After putting together an impressive year in Miami, he was shipped to the Steelers as part of the Jalen Ramsey-Minkah Fitzpatrick trade. He was unable to replicate those numbers in Arthur Smith’s offense, with his numbers cratering to 38 catches for 222 yards and two touchdowns.

Former Steelers TE Jonnu Smith – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Scott Galvin

He was not quite the same schematic fit in Pittsburgh playing alongside Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, but that also makes the 30-year-old another value signing worth the Bucs consideration. After being released this offseason, his next contract is only expected to be for one-year, $2.5 million.

The FIU alum could once again look to head south and join the Bucs, where he would immediately become the best receiving option in the room. While he has never been even an average blocker, he could complement the rest of the room and work in tandem with Payne Durham. One might argue Devin Culp could do the same, but Smith has been there and done that as a proven player who would open up the passing game even more.

If Cade Otton has priced himself out of Tampa Bay’s range, the Bucs will have several intriguing fallback options in free agency. Each of the four names above is a realistic fit for different reasons, but regardless, the tight end room will have a different outlook next season.