Buccaneers showing right team mentality with free agent interest
By Rob Leeds
The Buccaneers would’ve been silly to let it ride with what they had in their tight end room after Gronk retired. They’re correctly keeping their eyes on the field.
No NFL team would ever be complete with two rookies and a guy like Cameron Brate as the unsupported TE1. As much as Buccaneers fans would like to deny it, this room needs help without Rob Gronkowski at the helm.
The rookies could turn out to be decent down the road, and Brate is far from bad, but this just isn’t the room that you rely on during what should be Tom Brady’s final season in the league.
Given that this could be the last real chance this team has at reaching a Super Bowl in the coming years, the Bucs are being very smart by showing an interest in free agent tight end Kyle Rudolph.
Free agent tight end Kyle Rudolph has interest from multiple teams ahead of training camp. The #Bucs have been involved, I'm told, and a reunion with the #Vikings is not off the table. This situation should crystallize some time before camps open.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 14, 2022
Rudolph isn’t flashy or one of the most dominant guys at his position like Gronk was during 2020 and 2021, but he is a good pairing for Brate and is obviously much better than Cade Otton and Ko Kieft.
Kieft and Otton can both be quality NFL players down the road, but anyone who sees a fourth and a sixth-round pick as a way of replicating the production of Rob Gronkowksi during their first year in the NFL is outside of their mind.
Instead, the Buccaneers finding a guy like Rudolph would give them a veteran that has experience playing at the highest level for over a decade with two different teams. Rudolph has been extremely consistent during this time and even made his way to two Pro Bowls.
The stats could be better, but they do show a level of health and consistency that should excite the Buccaneers about Rudolph’s availability during such a crucial season.
Nothing is set in stone yet, but this would sure be an interesting addition if it did come to fruition before camp started.
One way or another, the Buccaneers are at least showing that they know their current tight end room isn’t going to cut it, and that is the right idea by the team.
Trending. Buccaneers need to take Rob Gronkowski at his word this time. light
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