Buccaneers: 4 moves to make to stay at the top of the NFL

The Buccaneers need to move on from Cameron Brate for a young, long-term option

Remaining focused on the future, the position with the least security for the Bucs is tight end. Rob Gronkowski has already retired once, O.J. Howard is on the final year of his deal with a nasty history of injuries, and Brate is far from a long-term option as the guy at this point of his career.

Tampa needs to lock down a cheap TE3 that can grow into a starter down the road, and that player isn’t currently on the roster. Brate is far more proven than Howard, but in the end, this still isn’t enough to make a case for down the road.

A rookie brings less than Brate does in the third role, but their cheap price tag and potential are enough to warrant making a move like this.

By moving on from Brate, the Bucs would save themselves several million dollars in cap space that can go towards signing the large rookie class, and they also lock someone in for at least four years to lean on after the Brady era ends.

There aren’t any other tight ends in this class that excite as much as Kyle Pitts, but the Buccaneers can spend a mid-round pick on the position to meet their needs and serve as the best use of cap space when it counts.

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