To the surprise of many around the NFL, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to sign Cade Otton to a new contract this spring instead of letting the tight end walk with multiple clubs reportedly interested in making him a fixture of their offense for the 2026 season. The Buccaneers have utilized Otton as a starter for a couple of seasons now, but he has largely been underwhelming, though he did flash his talent towards the end of the difficult 2025 campaign.
Otton, on paper, has all the tools to be one of the best tight ends in the NFL, and there is a lot of optimism that Otton can put it all together this season. He will have one of the best offensive coordinators in the league at working with tight ends in Zac Robinson, who coached up a mini Kyle Pitts breakout on an otherwise terrible Atlanta Falcons passing offense towards the end of the 2025 season.
Bauer Sharp is coming in as a late-round rookie, not a top tight end prospect like Kenyon Sadiq or even Max Klare of Ohio State, so Otton will have help but not true competition for his starting job. And Otton is already eyeing a big first season under the new contract, setting 70 receptions as a personal mark for him this season that he wants to reach.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need Cade Otton to breakout
Now, the 70 catch mark isn't as hallowed as it used to be in the NFL with seasons now at 17 games, but Cade Otton reaching the 70 catch mark would still be a huge deal. Only a handful of tight ends have done that last season, and Otton himself has never reached 60, sitting on exactly 59 receptions in each of the past two seasons.
But it's not just about the raw numbers. The Buccaneers need Otton to be much more efficient and a bigger target for Baker Mayfield in the red zone. It may be tough for Otton to get his 70 because there will be more passes to be spread around even without Mike Evans, as Ted Hurst is coming in as a rookie while Emeka Egbuka, Tez Johnson, and Jalen McMillan are all going to want the rock - not to mention the impressive rookie Bauer Sharp as the new No. 2 tight end.
So if Otton can finally reach the five touchdown mark - he only had one last season - or catch well over 10 yards per reception as a real playmaker with the ball in his hands, those things would go a long, long way in helping this Bucs offense truly click in 2026.
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