Buccaneers can bolster tight end room in proposed trade with Texans

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers boast one of the most well-rounded offensive rosters around the NFL. 

It starts with Baker Mayfield, who is an elite quarterback at his best. 

The offensive line is among the league’s most dominant units when fully-healthy. 

The wide receiver room, even without Mike Evans, is one of the deepest positions on the roster with Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., Jalen McMillan, Ted Hurst, and Tez Johnson. 

The running back stable is strong with Bucky Irving, Kenny Gainwell, and Sean Tucker. 

The one position that leaves a bit to be desired is at tight end. Cade Otton leads the way as a reliable starter, but the depth is shaky behind him.

Ko Kieft might be the team’s best blocking tight end, and a strong special teams contributor, but he’s a non-factor as a receiver.

Payne Durham is also a strong run blocker, but as a receiver, he caught just one pass last season.

Devin Culp has failed to make an impact either as a receiver or blocker, and he is on the roster bubble this offseason.

The Bucs drafted Bauer Sharp in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and the rookie looks extremely promising, but the team can’t hinge their hopes on a rookie sixth-round pick. 

If Tampa Bay wants to go all-in and plug the largest remaining hole on the offensive side of the ball, they could look to make a trade to bolster the tight end depth. The Houston Texans could be the ideal trade partner. 

Texans TE Cade Stover could be the missing piece for Buccaneers’ offense 

FanSided’s Justin Carter pitched a trade for every division favorite across the league. He landed as the Buccaneers as the division favorite for the NFC South, and landed on Cade Stover as the ideal trade target. 

“The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a solid starting tight end in Cade Otton, but the situation behind him is rough. Payne Durham? Ko Kleft? Bauer Sharp? Timothy C. Davidson III? (I made one of those names up, and the fact that many of you aren't sure which one at the moment says plenty about the state of this position room.),” wrote Carter.

The Texans have a crowded tight end room. Dalton Schultz leads the way, with Foster Moreau and Bevin Jordan behind him on the depth chart. They invested in the position yet again this offseason, spending a premium second-round pick to draft Marlin Klein out of Michigan.

There’s simply not much opportunity for Stover, who is buried on the depth chart, which could allow the Buccaneers to acquire him at a bargain bin price. 

“The 2024 fourth-round pick has just 27 career receptions, but the upside is still arguably there. He just needs a fresh start somewhere he can actually earn reps, and he should have no trouble finding those reps in Tampa Bay,” wrote Carter.

Stover entered the league as a prospect heralded for his receiving ability and athleticism. While he isn’t known to be a great blocker, he’d add the pure receiving threat that Tampa Bay is missing at the tight end position.

While it would be uncharacteristic for Jason Licht to part with draft capital, especially for a rotational tight end, it’s worth picking up the phone to see if the Bucs could pull off a fleece to improve the position room. 

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