Isaiah Likely’s Giants debut makes Buccaneers’ decision to pay Cade Otton harder to defend

Cade Otton didn’t play like a $30 million tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their Week 1 loss.

He recorded three receptions for 30 yards on five targets, and also had an inexcusable drop that had a domino effect as Tampa Bay turned the ball over on the next play. After signing an extension this offseason, the Bucs need their starting tight end to be a more reliable target in the passing game.

Otton’s three-year, $30 million contract isn’t an egregious overpay by any means. In fact, it was perfectly in line with his market value. The problem is less about the money itself and more about what the front office could’ve done with it instead. There was a more dynamic tight end on the market who the Buccaneers could’ve pursued at a similar price tag.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers overlooked Isaiah Likely in free agency

Isaiah Likely is a name that needs no introduction to Buccaneers fans. As a rookie in 2022, Likely had a breakout game against Tampa Bay, catching six passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.

Through his first four seasons, Likely averaged roughly 34 catches for 392 yards and four touchdowns per year. He has flashed the potential to become a game-changing receiving threat from the tight end position, but he was stuck playing second fiddle to Mark Andrews in a run-heavy Ravens offense.

Entering free agency and seeking an opportunity to lead a tight end room, Likely followed his former coach John Harbaugh to the New York Giants on a three-year, $40 million deal that pays him just over $13 million annually.

In his Giants debut, Likely recorded eight receptions on eight targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns.

Buccaneers offensive coordinator Zac Robinson ran 12 personnel at the second-highest rate of any play caller last season with the Atlanta Falcons. Kyle Pitts had a career year with 88 receptions for 928 yards and five touchdowns.

Knowing they were bringing in a play caller who heavily utilizes tight ends in the passing game, it might have been worth spending a few extra million to try to entice Likely to suit up in red and pewter.

The strongest argument in Otton’s defense would be that he’s a better blocker, which the Buccaneers really value at the tight end spot. But the numbers suggest that argument doesn’t hold much water. Pro Football Focus gave Likely (66.5) a higher run-blocking grade than Otton (56.1) in 2025.

Not to mention, the Buccaneers already have a pair of highly touted blockers at the tight end position in Ko Kieft and Payne Durham, the latter of whom graded as PFF’s best run blocker a season ago.

Likely is far more dynamic as a receiving threat and is capable of holding his own as a blocker. And while he did cost $3 million more per season, that would've been a price worth paying to give Baker Mayfield an explosive weapon that fits the new scheme like a glove.

This could all be a wash, as it’s possible Likely would have opted to stick with Harbaugh and sign with the Giants anyway. But I’m still going to complain about it after seeing how the Giants were able to run their offense through Likely. He led Big Blue in catches, yards, and touchdowns in the season opener.

Jason Licht’s philosophy of rewarding his homegrown talent rather than chasing outsiders is noble, but when a player has been as pedestrian as Otton, sometimes it’s worth breaking from the status quo and casting your line in search of a bigger fish.

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