Protecting Baker Mayfield shouldn't be a problem for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They have a good offensive line. Running the ball shouldn't be a problem either, and of course, Mayfield has the quarterback job locked down.
Entering the offseason, many looked at the Buccaneers' offense and wondered whether the passing game would be good enough. Mike Evans was walking out the door, and Emeka Egbuka still needs to take another step forward.
Jason Licht found the guy to replace Evans and provide Mayfield with another passing option. Taking Ted Hurst in round three may prove to be their best draft decision, but somewhere between the end of last season and the end of the draft, the Bucs forgot to do anything about the hole at tight end.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneeers can't rely solely on Cade Otton to hold down the TE unit
Otton is an efficient TE. He was second in yards receiving last year with 572 on 81 targets, but he provided just one trip into the end zone. That needs to change, and there is no reason the Buccaneers can't run a two-tight-end goal-line set. Well, they can't because they don't have another quality and proven tight end.
With the draft providing a sixth-round TE addition, there is still work to be done to get someone to complement Otton until Bauer Sharp can develop. At some point, Licht needs to turn to the free agency market, where there may be more value than fans might think.
- David Njoku
- Jonnu Smith
- Zach Ertz
- Will Dissly
Njoku is an intriguing option. A former Pro Bowl tight end, he has a lot of experience, but Njoku will want starting money. He is set to visit the Chargers. His salary demands could be prohibitive for the Buccaneers.
Smith, on the other hand, could make a lot of sense. He failed with the Steelers last season after being traded by the Dolphins last offseason, but he is a year removed from a Pro Bowl season, and what he did with the Dolphins proves he can be a valuable asset and option for Mayfield.
Despite his age, Ertz could be that savvy, experienced veteran who could help the offense and Sharp's development alongside Otton.
Dissly is a player that I love. He doesn't bring the statistics of a top TE, but his production value is higher than most think. He will enter his 9th NFL season if he lands with a team this year. He plays hard and provides stability to the position. He has 75 starts in 96 games and would be a perfect TE 2 for the Buccaneers.
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