Buccaneers still need to address biggest problem before camp
By Rob Leeds
Why the Buccaneers still aren’t getting busy in the tight end free agent market is almost baffling. That needs to change very soon.
Of all the changes for the Buccaneers this offseason, the biggest has been Rob Gronkowski and his choice to retire.
Will this prove to be the most impactful? That much remains to be seen. The loss of Jordan Whitehead is certainly going to change things up defensively, but Gronk was still playing like one of the best tight ends in the NFL when healthy.
One way or another, the Bucs did still have a backup in place for Jordan Whitehead. The same can’t be said for the Buccaneers with Gronk after losing O.J. Howard to free agency and bringing in two rookies.
As we will continue to say all offseason; the current tight end room isn’t going to cut it for the Bucs. Banking on Ko Kieft to even make the team at this point feels dramatically premature for a guy that can barely catch in an NFL that uses the pass more than anything.
Staying put with Cameron Brate and Cade Otton (rookie) as the only two sure things to make the roster at the position is ridiculous, even for a team that doesn’t need tight ends as much as the next one.
The Buccaneers do still have a few weeks to get someone out of free agency, but camp nearing is going to start taking names off the board sooner rather than later.
As it stands, the Bucs have a very unique opportunity with the top names remaining on the market. Why they would wait and see those names sign with other teams when it has just become such a big need is beyond this writer.
If the Buccaneers really do want to make the most of Tom Brady’s final season, they will want to find another tight end that isn’t a rookie if they want to keep this room intact.
Trending. Most likely cuts coming for the Buccaneers wide receivers. light
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