Bucs tight end Cade Otton enters this season as the veteran within the room after the departures of Cam Brate and Kyle Rudolph.

Based on Thursday’s press conference, Otton already talks the part of a veteran player. He had plenty to say about playing with the new offense and the quarterbacks currently competing for the job of throwing the ball in his direction.

Cade Otton Is Taking On The Challenge Of Being The Bucs No. 1 TE

On the offensive side of the ball, plenty of Bucs are looking to find their footing and establish themselves as starters. Whether that is at quarterback or each of the skill positions, many young players are vying for key roles as the fresh talent that has washed ashore in Tampa Bay.

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

Cade Otton is one of them. After a solid rookie season for a tight end, Otton is in firm control of the starting gig.

How has he taken the offseason to grow? Bucs head coach Todd Bowles weighed in.

“Just the growth mentally, understanding the game, really,” Bowles said. “It’s a new system for everybody over there, but he understands the game. He’s a football player, and he’s a heady football player. He’s been solid all around, he’s been having a good camp.”

Otton has seen himself naturally progressing and has the challenge of doing so within the confines of a new offense.

“It’s funny looking at my film from last year, you grow, and you watch more film of what you should be doing,” Otton said. “It’s like, ‘What was I doing last year?’ There’s always a natural progression, but I’m always trying to lock in on those details — with the new offense. There’s new footwork, there’s new hand placement.

“It keeps it fresh, it’s easy to challenge yourself when you’re learning a new offense with those little fundamentals. Overall, I just want to make a big impact on the offense, whether that’s in the run game or the passing game. That’s always through the little things.”

Cade Otton Comments On OC Dave Canales, Watching Seahawks Film

Bucs TE Cade Otton – Photo by: Adam Slivon/PR

A big emphasis will be placed on the Bucs’ tight ends working on the little things to have a big impact. Take the Seattle Seahawks offense last season. The top three tight ends on the team – Noah Fant, Will Dissly, and Colby Parkinson – combined for 109 receptions, 1,157 yards, and nine touchdowns.

Seattle extracted near Travis Kelce-like production from the trio through how they schemed and utilized them. It aided quarterback Geno Smith immensely to have a variety of security blankets that could move the chain and stretch the seam of the field.

It is something that Cade Otton has been studying closely as he prepares to do the same under offensive coordinator Dave Canales.

“I know a couple of those guys [in Seattle]. Being able to see how they were used and knowing the terminology. It’s kind of fun when you’re watching another team and their offense. Being able to think of the formations and the motion they’re doing [up until] the play, and how the tight ends are fitting into it. It’s fun to watch Seattle’s film and then project that to our offense and our year and see how we’ll fit in. It looks promising; we’re super excited.”

Bucs OC Dave Canales – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Seahawks’ film showcases that the tight end is the liaison of the run and passing game. If the tight ends can block and get to the second level, it creates holes for the running backs to get through. If done proficiently, it opens up the play action and chances to catch defenses off guard as their routes extend down the field.

Canales has been coaching them up with this as a key focal point.

“Coach Canales has talked about marrying the run and the pass, and so, as tight ends, we kind of the link between those two things, we get great opportunities in the play-action game, and then just at our position working the middle of the field. You know, we’re early in reads and stuff, so it’s been great seeing guys make plays in the tight end room.

“You know, we’re a pretty inexperienced bunch overall, but I think you can see all of our guys playing with confidence, playing fast, and I think the offense does a great job at putting us in those positions.”

Cade Otton Has A “Front-Row Seat” To QB Competition

Seemingly every offensive player has talked about the Bucs’ quarterback competition between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask this offseason. Cade Otton added to the conversation, discussing it from the unique vantage point at tight end.

Bucs QBs Kyle Trask and Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It’s been super fun – they’re both great guys, and they both support each other,” Otton said of the competition. “They’re both doing a great job. I love getting to work with both of them, and I think just each time one person raises their game, the other person is going to do the same because they’re competitive, they’re smart, they’re talented. It’s going to be really fun to see how that plays out, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

In particular, Otton mentioned Kyle Trask as someone coming along and developing nicely.

“He just keeps gaining confidence. From learning a new scheme standpoint, he has a surprising level of control on the terminology and pace of the offense – what he’s doing. He’s come a long way, Baker is really good at that too. I feel privileged to get a front-row seat to what they’re doing. Kyle’s done a great job, he’s grown a lot.”

Growth is one of the biggest themes throughout the Bucs’ roster. Position by position, each day of training camp provides another chance to do so. With every opportunity to be the team’s No. 1 tight end, Cade Otton is well on his way towards having a bigger and better sophomore season.