There is no better friend to a quarterback than a reliable tight end, and unfortunately for Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the organization did not exactly have the second coming of Rob Gronkowski in the 2025 NFL season.
Cade Otton looks the part and should, in theory, be a smooth athlete and a game breaking tight end. And maybe with a little more seasoning or a change in scenery, the 2026 upcoming free agent could break out and become one of the better pass catching tight ends in the league.
But aside from a brilliant performance in Week 18 against the Carolina Panthers with the season on the line - though, by the then, it was too late and the season had already been on the line for at least a month - there was nothing impressive about Otton's 2025 season.
The Buccaneers may decide against Cade Otton
The Bucs have a tough decision to make with Otton after a mediocre campaign, as he could get more money elsewhere. And so the Bucs could be looking at a replacement for the young tight end this spring. With bigger needs elsewhere on defense, the Bucs may not want to spend a lot of money or even a high draft pick on a tight end.
If they do, though, the best possible tight end replacement is staring right at them on the draft board in Oregon Ducks star Kenyon Sadiq. He was one of the best overall players in college football last season and a real mis match nightmare, and he could be an immediate X Factor in the NFL when lining up in the slot.
The Buccaneers need pass rushers and linebackers above all else this offseason, but if they are looking for one more missing piece on offense, the tight end position is THE gaping hole surrounding Baker Mayfield. Tampa Bay has one of the most enviable wide receiver groups in the league, a good offensive line, and a great group of running backs, even accounting for the imminent loss of Rachaad White in free agency.
But it is that pesky tight end position that could use addressing and upgrading from Otton. Sadiq is twice the weapon Otton is with the ball in his hands, and there is something else that Bucs fans should watch out for with him.
Because of the bigger needs on defense, taking Sadiq in the first round may not be warranted in the eyes of some. But if his draft stock were to fall, especially with the bias of Oregon getting destroyed by Indiana in the College Football Playoff, he could be an absolute steal in the second round. Anything can happen in the pre draft process, and as people try to pick apart the counting stats, perhaps Sadiq could be a second round steal for Tampa Bay.