The Bucs may not become a heavy 12-personnel offense in 2026, but offensive coordinator Zac Robinson’s recent comments suggest Tampa Bay wants more flexibility than ever before. Robinson and tight ends coach Justin Peelle outlined the vision they have for the players on the roster last week.

Led by tight end Cade Otton, Tampa Bay also has plenty of backups with varying skillsets, such as Payne Durham, Devin Culp, Ko Kieft, and Bauer Sharp. That makes it a position group worth watching, especially as gameplans are drawn up to utilize and maximize the talent.

Expect Bucs To Find Balance With 12 Personnel In 2026

While Zac Robinson ran the second-most 12 personnel in the NFL last season, do not expect that again in 2026. \

Although there was a league-wide shift to running more two tight end sets, the Bucs have an abundance of wide receivers to involve. Robinson has coached on both ends of the spectrum after running the most 11 personnel in 2024, so that should lead to more of a balance going forward.

Bucs OC Zac Robinson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Cade Otton will continue to get the majority of snaps at the position, but the offensive play-caller also shared what he likes about Payne Durham, who fits more of the blocking archetype.

“Love the tight end packages that you can have with both of those guys,” Robinson said. “Payne has been a guy that you throw on the tape and the physicality as a blocker and anytime it’s been thrown to him, he’s making plays as well. He hasn’t had as many opportunities, but Cade and Payne have had some great careers up to this point.”

While Durham’s receiving production was minimal last season, Robinson’s praise underscores how highly the staff values his blocking and physicality. That gives him a fighting chance, considering that he had just one catch for 11 yards on four targets. The 2023 fifth-round pick was about as much of a non-factor in the passing game as it gets, but he has flashed the ability to make contested catches in the past.

Bucs TE Payne Durham – Photo by: IMAGN Images

Justin Peelle also spoke about saving Otton more when asked about his usage, and it is fair to wonder the extent of allowing other guys to rotate in. Since 2023, Otton has played 97%, 92%, and 93% of the offensive snaps. Perhaps that means more Durham, but it could also mean more chances to see Devin Culp, Bauer Sharp, and Ko Kieft.

“You love 12 personnel, you know, I think the first year in Atlanta we were the heaviest 11 personnel and then last year we were the second-most 12 [personnel],” Robinson said. “Again, you’re adjusting to who the best 11 are on the field. You love to get base defense out there to get some of those different looks for the run and pass game, but it’s an exciting group. You add in Ko Kieft too, who’s a really good blocker, so there’s some good versatility within that room and just looking forward to progress from Bauer and the rest of those guys.”

Perhaps the most telling detail was who Robinson did not mention.

Culp has been given two years to showcase his athleticism and prove himself as ready, but Liam Coen and Josh Grizzard chose not to involve him more. His time could be running out, as Tampa Bay will likely keep three tight ends on the 53-man roster.

For the room as a whole, Peelle shared that tight end usage will come down to the advantage they see based on the opponent.

“That’s the trend,” Peelle said about more teams working in multiple tight ends. “Last year, there was a lot more 12 and 13 going around the league and what you do as a coach when you start game planning you look at it like, ‘What are our advantages? Is it better for us to play with the three wide receivers that we have that are extremely talented, or can we get some sort of matchup advantage by putting two or three tight ends on the field?’ I think that’s a week-to-week basis, and then it goes to the tight ends. Have they proven themselves, can we get better to where we have to get these guys on the field?”

Bucs Coaches Discuss Characteristics And Value Tight End Room Provides

There was debate as to whether the Bucs would re-sign Cade Otton over the offseason. Ultimately, the team valued him enough to give him a three-year, $30 million deal. Although his numbers do not scream elite tight end, he checks a lot of boxes that go unnoticed.

Bucs TE Cade Otton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Starting with Cade, he does a lot for us,” Peelle said. “Maybe the numbers aren’t up there amongst the top ones, but he does a lot of things for us that I think a lot of people don’t realize. He’s really good in the run game, obviously we’ve had some issues and some injuries… we had to do some different things with him to protect those edges. Unselfish player, team leader, he does a lot for this team that goes unrecognized and doesn’t say anything about it, either. That’s just the guy he is.”

Otton’s numbers dipped a bit from 2024 to 2025, as he finished with 59 catches for 572 yards and a touchdown last season. Even when the ball was not going his way, he served as an extra blocker when left tackle Tristan Wirfs and right tackle Luke Goedeke missed time due to injury. With it being hard for him to get targets, it made it that much more difficult for the other tight ends to earn expanded roles.

“As for the other tight ends, it was just the way it went last year,” Peelle added. “Right, wrong, or indifferent, the opportunities just didn’t come our way but that’s what I do love about this room — it’s a very unselfish group. They’ll do whatever they’re asked to do. They don’t say anything, they don’t complain. They’re just trying to help win ballgames.”

With Payne Durham, Devin Culp, and Ko Kieft all returning, they will face some new competition in sixth-round pick Bauer Sharp.

Bucs TE Bauer Sharp – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Sharp has a chance to stick and beat out Culp or Kieft, especially given that he is more of a versatile piece that can do a bit of everything.

“You love the tenacity he plays with; he plays with an edge,” Robinson said. “He can run; he has some athleticism and some toughness at the line of scrimmage… Bauer is a guy that brings a unique skillset with some versatility. He lined up everywhere at LSU, he lined up in the backfield, he was at tight end, he’s out wide, they asked him to do a ton of different things so it’s easy to see a vision for how he can fit into that room.”

The Bucs may not feature a star at tight end, but Zac Robinson and Justin Peelle believe the position could quietly become one of the offense’s most important matchup tools in 2026.