Coming into the 2024 season, Bucs tight end Cade Otton had some big personal goals for himself. Not only did Otton want to make the 2025 Pro Bowl, but he also wanted to become a “great blocker.”

While he failed to get a Pro Bowl nod as 49ers tight end George Kittle and Cardinals tight end Trey McBride represent the position for the NFC, he succeeded in making strides as a blocker and as a pass-catcher.

In his third season, the young tight end had career highs across the board with 59 receptions for 600 receiving yards while tying the four touchdowns he had in 2023. After the season, what were Otton’s thoughts when reflecting on what he set out to do?

Cade Otton: “I Just Felt Like I Got Better”

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

Pewter Report caught up with Cade Otton as he and the rest of the Bucs players were cleaning out their lockers and heading into the offseason after falling at the hands of the Commanders in the Wild Card Round.

While many players were still reeling from the defeat and understandably glum about how it ended, Otton had an optimistic view of how the season played out for him.

“I just felt like I got better,” Otton said about the strides he made this year. “That’s the goal every day, every week, every season. Just want to improve and be the best player I can be for the team. I do feel like I accomplished that this year.”

After wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin went down with injuries midseason against the Ravens, it was Otton who stepped up as the No. 1 target in the passing game until Evans’ return.

He went on a three-game run as the most productive tight end in football, hauling in 25 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns. In just three weeks, that equated to just over 40% of his season totals in receptions and yards – and 75% of his touchdowns.

While Otton will look to be more consistent within offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s offense next year, he believes that he and the other tight ends in the room fit well in the system.

“He does an awesome job changing up looks, spreading the ball around,” Otton said about Coen’s offense. “Different run schemes, different pass schemes. I feel like I helped accomplish some of those things. All of the other tight ends did. We took pride in being able to just do whatever the coaches asked of us and we all did it really well.”

Cade Otton Is Not The Only Promising Bucs’ Tight End In The Room

Bucs TEs Payne Durham and Cade Otton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While Cade Otton had his best season yet in 2024, he was not the only Bucs tight end who made the most of his opportunities. When Otton went down late in the regular season with a knee injury, Payne Durham and Devin Culp did not miss a beat filling in.

Durham had two touchdowns in as many games, while Culp went from inactive to very active with five receptions for 88 yards across Weeks 17 and 18.

The starter was very complimentary of his backups, and each will continue growing and helping each other improve.

“Both great players, great guys, and really hard workers,” Otton said. “We just had a lot of fun coming into the facility every single day. We keep it light, but we also put our noses to the grindstone and work to get better. You see it show up with them when they get their opportunities to play, and they make plays.”

After drafting a tight end on Day 3 of the NFL Draft in 2022, 2023, and 2024, the Bucs are not likely to spend another pick on the position this offseason. Instead, it will be up to this trio as well as Ko Kieft to harness their skillsets and make the most of their chances. Under the guidance of tight ends coach Justin Peelle this past season, they seemed to be prepared for whatever was “thrown” their way.

“They were one of the groups that had the fewest mental errors during the season as well,” head coach Todd Bowles said when discussing the group at his end-of-season press conference. “Coach [Justin] Peelle does a great job getting Cade [Otton] ready, getting Payne [Durham], getting [Devin] Culp ready, having Ko [Kieft] available, using different types of guys to do what they do best.”

Cade Otton Shares How Baker Mayfield’s Leadership Is “Special”

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and TE Cade Otton – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

Cade Otton did not just speak highly of his fellow tight ends, but also about his quarterback, Baker Mayfield. Mayfield had a career year himself and the two share a unique bond, even when he was unhappy when Otton shaved his mustache and later his hair.

“Baker, as you come to know him, is such a personable guy,” Otton said. “Who he is with you guys is who he is with us. He jokes around, he’s nice, he’s fun, but he’s also super competitive. We’re able to have conversations all the time – life, joking around, or football. I haven’t been to any other place, I’ve only worked with one other quarterback [in Tom Brady], but I think it’s pretty special with how he operates and leads our team.”

Circling back to Otton’s appearance, there is not a lot more he can do to change up his style. Regardless of what Mayfield thinks, that decision will come down to his wife’s verdict.

“It’s a good question, there’s not too many other combinations I can do,” Otton said about what he would do with his hair next season. “We’ll see what the wife suggests or approves. She’s number one, but she actually suggested the buzzcut. She liked it, and the mustache she also likes [laughs]. We’ll see what’s next, nothing really planned.”