When Rob Gronkowski retired earlier this offseason, the Bucs were left without much experience at the tight end position. They have since signed Kyle Rudolph, but Cameron Brate is the lone tight end on the roster with experience in Byron Leftwich’s system.

So, while Rudolph will get up to speed and contribute in 2022, he isn’t a long-term answer for Tampa Bay’s tight end room. Frankly, neither is Brate, who turned 31 in July. So, what does the future of the position look like for the Bucs? The good news is, they have no shortage of options. They have three rookies in the room, and each of them has managed to make an impression on Brate, whose 33 career receiving touchdowns are the third-most in franchise history. 

Fourth-Round Pick ‘Does Everything Really Well’

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

The Bucs remained unsure about Gronkowski’s status throughout much of the offseason. There was hope he would return for another season, which is perhaps why the team didn’t make a big splash at the position in free agency or the 2022 Draft. Instead, general manager Jason Licht and his staff waited until the fourth round to select Cade Otton out of the University of Washington.

An ankle injury kept Otton out of rookie camp, as well as OTAs and mandatory mini-camp. However, by the time training camp came around, he was cleared to participate. And he’s made the most of his first taste of NFL camp, impressing coaches and teammates. One of those teammates is Brate, who recently heaped a ton of praise on him.

“Cade came in probably the most polished rookie I’ve seen at the tight end position. You can tell he’s from a football family. He has all the fundamentals down,” Brate said. “Maybe he’s not going to wow everyone with crazy athleticism and stuff like that, but he is one of the most solid football players that I can remember as a rookie. He kind of does everything really well [and] has a really good understanding and feel for the game.”

Edgy Sixth-Rounder Brings ‘A Different Element’

Bucs TE Ko Kieft – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

In the sixth round of this year’s draft, the Bucs selected Ko Kieft out of the University of Minnesota. Kieft, who stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs in at 265 pounds, is a bruiser. Tampa Bay drafted him for his physicality and ability to block – not for his pass-catching ability. In fact, he only totaled 12 catches in six college seasons. And so far in training camp and the preseason, Kieft has been as advertised. He collected a massive pancake block in the Bucs’ preseason opener against the Dolphins two weeks ago, putting his playing style on full display.

Tampa Bay hasn’t just lined Kieft up at tight end. The rookie has also taken snaps in the backfield as a fullback, which is something that has stood out to Brate.

“It was awesome to bring in a guy like Ko, who kind of brings in a different element and edge to the tight end room,” Brate said. “You can kind of move him around and put him in different spots in the backfield – not really out wide because that’s not really his game. He brings a lot of grit to the tight end room and both [Otton and Kieft] have gotten a lot better.”

Undrafted Ivy Leaguer Has ‘Improved A Ton’

Bucs TE JJ Howland – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While Otton and Kieft are the two rookie tight ends likely to join Brate and Rudolph on the Bucs’ final 53-man roster, there’s another who has shown steady improvement throughout training camp. That guy is JJ Howland, whose backstory is the most similar to Brate’s. Howland signed with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent out of Yale, an Ivy League school. Of course, Brate got his start with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent out of Harvard.

Howland had his ups and downs early in training camp, but he’s been much better as the month has progressed. Working with the threes, he has developed a nice chemistry with second-year quarterback Kyle Trask. It translated in the Bucs’ preseason opener, as Howland caught three of his four targets for 42 yards (14.0 avg.).

Brate said he has been doing what he can to help Howland, Harvard/Yale rivalry aside.

“Another guy that has gotten a lot better is JJ – fellow Ivy leaguer,” Brate said. “I try to help him out as much as I can, but he’s improved a ton. Excited about that young group.”