Buccaneers: Bringing back O.J. Howard was the right decision

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers elected to use their fifth-year option on TE O.J. Howard. Despite the trade rumors, bringing him back was the right decision.

O.J. Howard was a name that Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans were listening for intently during the 2020 NFL Draft, and for good reason.

The Buccaneers TE was consistently rumored to be on the trading block- despite the organization’s statement that they were excited to have him back- and that was only amplified when the Buccaneers made a trade to allow TE Rob Gronkowski to join his former teammate Tom Brady in Tampa.

Despite all of that, Bruce Arians and his staff remained unified that they were going to bring back O.J. Howard and were looking forward to the pairing of him and Gronkowski, as well as Cameron Brate, at the tight end position.

Earlier this week, the Buccaneers confirmed that they were using their fifth-year team option to bring Howard back. It was the right decision.

Of course, there were plenty of Bucs fans who were hoping to get another second-round pick for Howard. The truth of the matter is that there wasn’t such a market for the tight end. I’m sure there may have been some NFL franchises who would’ve traded for him, but they likely were offering much lower than what Tampa Bay would want to take for their former first-round selection.

It’s easy to see, at least in my eyes, the value of bringing Howard back.

The Buccaneers can now work some two tight end sets with both him and Gronkowski on the field at the same time, which could create match-up nightmares for opposing defensive backfields.

In addition to the different schemes and formations, there’s no doubting that Howard has potential. Perhaps he just needs a veteran who has played the position for many years to come in, mentor him and find a way to tap into that potential? In steps Rob Gronkowski.

Howard is only set to make $1.8 million this year, so there really is no way to lose in this situation.

If the Bucs bring him back and he doesn’t live up to that potential, you’ll see the organization move on. But what if he does reach that potential? What if he does finally turn into the first-round talent we thought he could be when he first came to Tampa Bay?

You could be talking about an extremely lethal offense this season and one of the best tight ends in the league for years to come. It’s a low-risk move with a potential high reward and that’s why it was the right decision.