Buccaneers: Five Big Ticket Potential Free Agent Options

Martellus Bennett

The more red zone options, the better. Am I right?

Martellus Bennett stands at 6’7″ tall. That actually is two inches taller than star wide receiver Mike Evans. Bennett’s height is the football equivalent of having a giant Redwood tree with hands looking for the ball in the end zone. How often do we see the “fade” run in the NFL? You know the play, the tall receiver heads to the back corner, the quarterback throws it up there for the receiver to out-jump his opponent for the score. It happens a lot. A guy like Bennett makes it a whole lot easier.

Bennett has been a productive tight end since he joined the league in 2008. Last year, he did post a career high in touchdowns with seven. Some might say that was a product of Tom Brady, but that isn’t entirely the case. Brady does make everybody better, there is no doubt. But Bennett was no slouch to start with. He averaged 69 receptions per year over three years with the Bears, and posted 55 catches in his lone year with the Giants. Back in 2014, he posted 90 receptions and went to the Pro Bowl.

Now this is not taking anything away from Cameron Brate. He came into his own in 2016 and he should not be out of the plans by any means. He became a favorite target of Winston for good reason. But, if we bring Bennett in to join Brate, Evans, Adam Humphries, and everyone else, the Bucs become just that much more potent.

And that will bring a smile to everyone’s face.