The Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to keep Cade Otton around as an impending free agent, re-signing him to a new contract as the high profile player the Bucs were actually able to keep around this spring when others like Jamel Dean and Mike Evans walked.
Otton is a talented tight end and is still relatively young. Though the Buccaneers have seen flashes of his potential in a Bucs uniform, the Bucs have yet to see him truly put it all together. He can be frustratingly inconsistent, both as a pass catcher and a blocker.
Before the Bucs signed Otton to a new contract, it seemed like he was a sure bet to walk away to another team that would pay him more. So the Bucs have been pretty consistently linked with the top tight end options in the 2026 NFL Draft, but even after keeping Otton, the Bucs remain interested in players like Kenyon Sadiq, who remains in play with the 15th overall pick despite the major needs on the defensive side of the ball.
The Buccaneers are formally evaluating Max Klare
But Sadiq isn't the only big name tight end the Bucs could be after in this year's draft. It may make more sense for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to address their defensive needs before taking a tight end in the second or third rounds.
According to a report from Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live, former Ohio State Buckeyes star tight end Max Klare revealed that he has a pre draft visit scheduled with the Buccaneers. Klare has been mocked to the Bucs in the second and third rounds before and is one of the top alternatives to Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq, alongside Eli Stowers.
Klare is not as exciting or as versatile as Sadiq, but he could be an intriguing secondary option with Cade Otton. Since the Buccaneers paid up a little bit to keep Otton around and may try to expand his role as a big target with Mike Evans gone to the San Francisco 49ers, it actually makes more sense for the Bucs to go with a player like Klare who can function as a more traditional tight end, rather than spending a premium draft pick on somebody like Sadiq.
That said, Klare isn't some plodder either. He may have more burst and explosiveness than Otton, and there is real playmaking upside with him. Klare got overshadowed by the elite wide receivers in Columbus, and Ohio State's quarterback wasn't one of the best in college football either. He's very much worth a look for Tampa.