So Licht is in fact cooked... He came up empty in FA.
Idk what is left but it can't be much.
There are upgrades out there but he seems gunshy or hoping to find a bargain. It does not take much to upgrade the Bucs front seven.
What worries me is if they think they are going to spend draft picks to address the front seven. Can you imagine this team starting three rookies in the front seven?
So Licht is in fact cooked... He came up empty in FA.
Idk what is left but it can't be much.
There are upgrades out there but he seems gunshy or hoping to find a bargain. It does not take much to upgrade the Bucs front seven.
What worries me is if they think they are going to spend draft picks to address the front seven. Can you imagine this team starting three rookies in the front seven?
Maybe Hendricks? Praying I guess at this point
@firebowles2026 I'm not sure your assessment of Otton is echoed throughout the league. I've been reading he's considered to be a top 10 TE. I'm OK with the Bucs keeping him, and the price isn't all that bad for a top 10 at the position. Plus, he hasn't missed hardly any games due to injury.
Top 10? In what world. He's not top 20
Among TE's in 2025:
Receptions - 12th
Yards - 15th
TD's - Tied for 50th
YAC - 12th
Among TE's in 2024:
Receptions - 12th
Yards - 14th
TD's - 15th
YAC - 8th
And that's on an offense where's he is pretty far down on the weapon list. I'd say he's probably top a 20 TE in the NFL. Give me the 20 guys that are better.
The stats don't outline his miscues and drops and mental mistakes:
Top TE: (no order) 20 listed
Sam Laporta
AJ Barner
Brenton Strange
Dalton Kincaid
Dallas Goedert
Oronde Gadsden
George Kittle
Coltson Loveland
Harold Fannin
Jake Ferguson
Brock Bowers
Tyler Warren
Kyle Pitts
Trey McBride
Juwon Johnson
Tucker Kraft
Travis Kelce (does he count? IDK)
TJ Hockenson
Mark Andrews
David Njoku
Every one of those players, even the best among them, have had "miscues and drops and mental mistakes." But respectfully, that list proves your bias against Otton. He's outperformed quite a few of those guys - again - in an offense where he's one of the last options. Can you at least admit his stats among his peers the last two seasons took you by surprise a little? Hell, I'll admit the YAC alone surprised me. He's had top-20 production.
Your player analysis matching the Red Board GM's player analysis should give you a little pause.
for anyone saying Cade Otton is top 10, that is ridiculous statement
just asked chat GBT to rank the top 20 NFL tight ends, and Cade came in at 20. There is 32 starting tight ends in the league which mean the guy is below average.
The Cade Otton resigning was one fans didnt want....which is why management did it
So Licht is in fact cooked... He came up empty in FA.
Idk what is left but it can't be much.
some will say, "hey there is still time left"
this team is such ass. Like even if get Hendrickson, you still have a shitload of holes on the defensive side of the ball
for anyone saying Cade Otton is top 10, that is ridiculous statement
just asked chat GBT to rank the top 20 NFL tight ends, and Cade came in at 20. There is 32 starting tight ends in the league which mean the guy is below average.
The Cade Otton resigning was one fans didnt want....which is why management did it
Well free agency officially starts today but right now on paper the majority the money is going on offense so far with KG and Otton. I hope the Bucs don't rely on the draft to address defense because that would be a mistake.
some will say, "hey there is still time left"
this team is such ass. Like even if get Hendrickson, you still have a shitload of holes on the defensive side of the ball
I wouldn't say too many holes as the secondary is set. The front seven needs another ILB, and 2 X EDGE and a larger three tech.
The larger 3 tech to replace Kancey the following off season IS coming from this year draft and will rotate with Vea and Kancey as a rookie. That is Lichts MO to draft replacements one year out.
So if Licht can land another veteran ILB and 2 veteran edge rushers the Bucs are in prime position heading into the draft.
There’s a lot of plays where Wirfs wins, Goedeke wins, Kieft wins, Mauch wins, then Otton is next to them and loses.
Nope. Didn't happen.
for anyone saying Cade Otton is top 10, that is ridiculous statement
just asked chat GBT to rank the top 20 NFL tight ends, and Cade came in at 20. There is 32 starting tight ends in the league which mean the guy is below average.
The Cade Otton resigning was one fans didnt want....which is why management did it
From Evan Winter at A to Z Sports:
"With all the conversation surrounding Mike Evans’ future with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the future of starting tight end Cade Otton flew under the radar, for the most part.
Honestly, it kind of makes sense, too. Otton is one of the most underrated players in the league, despite being considered top-10 at his position by those who pay close attention to the NFL as a whole.
Regardless, the Buccaneers are fully aware of Otton’s value and they proved that by signing him to a new deal, marking their first move of 2026 free agency."
From Google AI:
"Otton's 2025 performance was marked by high reliability; he was noted for a low 3.7% drop rate, maintaining a consistent presence as a safety valve for the Buccaneers."
He's not as bad as some of you are saying. Just saying...
I don't think Otton is as bad as some are making him out to be. Also, some point to the fact that the Buccaneers' TE is not used as much as others. If that is the case, you don't pay for a top 5 TE. Now, if the reason they are not used as much is that they aren't good, then you should improve the position. I think with ME leaving, the TE will become much more important inside the 10-yard line.
We will have to wait and see how the off-season plays out. I lean towards the problem being 80% coaching and 20% Licht.
There’s a lot of plays where Wirfs wins, Goedeke wins, Kieft wins, Mauch wins, then Otton is next to them and loses.
Nope. Didn't happen.
It does happen.
Durham has no business being as close as to Otton in terms of blocking prowess. It could be argued Durham is undervalued if he is able to keep pace with Otton. But the truth is that Otton isn't that good.
Basically if the Bucs want to run the ball Otton shouldn't be their first choice and if the Bucs need a dynamic pass catcher Otton shouldn't be a first choice either.
for anyone saying Cade Otton is top 10, that is ridiculous statement
just asked chat GBT to rank the top 20 NFL tight ends, and Cade came in at 20. There is 32 starting tight ends in the league which mean the guy is below average.
The Cade Otton resigning was one fans didnt want....which is why management did it
Wow if Chat GPT said so then it must be true.
Basically if the Bucs want to run the ball Otton shouldn't be their first choice and if the Bucs need a dynamic pass catcher Otton shouldn't be a first choice either.
But if they want the defense to wonder which role the TE might play on a given play. . he is currently their best choice lmao
Otton is sort of the whipping boy for other angst. He is a mid-level TE and only got paid like a middle level TE. And yet we have people suggesting we should have let him walk for a 6th round comp pick or run with either of the (one dimensional) two guys who have been unable to overtake him on the depth chart.
With Evans leaving they were definitely re-signing him AND they did so at a reasonable rate.
Otton is NOT the Bucs problem lol and you have to have a TE.
Licht has a lot of support from the Glazers, but IF he and Arians were partially behind the current plan to keep Bowles (they must have been) then Licht's fate is probably tied to Bowles fate. If keeping Bowles this season was the Glazers plan then Licht is probably safe even if this season goes down the tubes
But if they want the defense to wonder which role the TE might play on a given play. . he is currently their best choice lmao
I do not think so because Durham and Culp have close the gap as blocker thank to Peele's coaching, and both look better as receivers. Durham with his size and Culp with his size and speed.
But if they want the defense to wonder which role the TE might play on a given play. . he is currently their best choice lmao
I do not think so because Durham and Culp have close the gap as blocker thank to Peele's coaching, and both look better as receivers. Durham with his size and Culp with his size and speed.
Lots of respect for your posts, but this topic is just weird. No defense is game planning the Bucs by saying "ya know, Durham and Culp are better blockers now?" They are just looking at tendencies as reflected in the FILM and this is what they would see:
Otton played 600 snaps on those 600snaps hes the focal point blocker on many runs and he still had 81 targets, many on key downs and distances
Durham had 350 snaps he had 4 targets.
Culp had 56 with 1 target
The Bucs FILM says that Otton is the two way threat, Culp mostly a receiver and Durham mostly a blocker.
Come on, man. You're first argument against Otton related to his $ not being available to get defense. I get that, but since that point they have let Evans go and all they did was basically pay Otton like a middle level TE . . . which he is . . in part because he is a LEGIT two way TE (even though he is not a great blocker and not crazy fast receiver)