Week by week, the Bucs are seeing rookie tight end Cade Otton come into his own. And in Sunday’s 21-15 win over the Falcons, they watched him have his best game yet.

With veteran tight end Cameron Brate sidelined on Sunday due to a concussion, Otton needed to step up in a lot of ways. The fourth-round pick out of Washington did just that, coming through with a career-high six catches for 43 yards on seven targets. He was an especially big part of the first half as Tampa Bay built a 13-0 halftime lead.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles had plenty of praise for his rookie tight end during his Monday press conference.

“I think Cade played well – he blocked well, he caught the ball well, he understands the game. He’s only going to get better for us. He’s a very big piece of what we’re trying to do, and his role has already expanded,” Bowles said.

“I don’t know if it can get any bigger – but it’s already expanded… It depends on the game plan. You don’t just make [the game plan] for one guy. But he’ll play his normal amount of reps and when it’s time for him to make a play, he’ll step up and make it.”

Bucs Asked A Lot Of Otton In Week 5, And He Delivered

Bucs RB Leonard Fournette and TE Cade Otton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Otton played the most snaps of any “skill” position player in Sunday’s win, as he was on the field for 74 of the Bucs’ 79 offensive snaps (94%). He made the most of those snaps, too, contributing not only in the passing game but also as a blocker.

“He’s a full tight end,” Bowles said Monday. “Obviously, he can get better at blocking in a lot of ways but he’s willing, he tries, he sticks his face in there, he’s not afraid of the competition and he catches the ball well. So, we’re happy with him.”

As a rookie, of course Otton is a work in progress — in all aspects of his game. But prior to Sunday’s game, he graded out with a strong 82.5 pass-blocking grade and a respectable 64.6 run-blocking grade. And with more pass-catching performances like the one he had Sunday, his 53.1 receiving grade will only improve.

The Bucs certainly liked him coming out of college, and they’re surely hoping he continues to rise above his draft position. After all, he may be the future of the position in Tampa Bay. Early signs show that future could be a bright one.

With Brate out on Sunday, Otton was forced to step up. And little by little, the rookie may very well assume the TE1 role. Brate wasn’t off to the hottest start to the season before his Week 4 injury, and the more Otton proves himself as the weeks go on, the harder it will be to relegate him to TE2 when the veteran does return. Nonetheless, having both a trustworthy option like Brate and a rising talent in Otton certainly can’t be a bad problem to have.