The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered free agency with plenty of question marks -- perhaps none bigger than the future of veteran wide receiver Mike Evans.
It was widely expected that tight end Cade Otton would leave in free agency unless the Buccaneers lost Evans. With the team prioritizing Evans, it seemed highly unlikely Tampa Bay would have the money to keep both.
Now that Otton has officially re-signed, it sure feels like the writing on the wall for Evans’ future in Tampa Bay.
Re-signing Cade Otton was the right move for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Re-signing Otton almost felt like a necessity due to the team's lack of depth at the position. Ko Kieft is a free agent, and he specializes as a blocker and special teams player. The only other tight ends on the roster are Payne Durham and Devin Culp, who combined for only two catches last season.
Losing Otton would've made tight end a glaring need that the Bucs would be forced to address via free agency or the NFL Draft, and they instead decided to roll with their in-house guy.
Otton has been a steady, reliable player for the Buccaneers since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Last season, he caught 59 passes for 572 yards and a touchdown.
In his four-year career, he's averaging about 500 yards and about three touchdowns per season. That production isn't irreplaceable by any means, but he's also a steady blocker which is often overlooked. Otton is an under the radar player that does everything the Bucs ask of their tight ends, and that alone makes him a valuable piece.
Of course, the signing is bittersweet, as it almost certainly means the Buccaneers will be losing their franchise icon Mike Evans. But the harsh reality is that the Bucs are more built to sustain the loss of Evans due to their strong wide receiver room than they'd be to replace the loss of Otton.