As we reach the doldrum summer months of the NFL offseason, all eyes are starting to turn toward the future and what next season might bring.
Expectations for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are as high as they've been since Tom Brady arrived, something reflected by the moves Jason Licht made in free agency. The Bucs continue to reload rather than rebuild, as players like Antoine Winfield Jr., Baker Mayfield, and Mike Evans were brought back on sizable new contracts as an endorsement of the talent the team has in-house.
That talent extends beyond the upper tier of star power, as one name that keeps coming up in preseason predictions is tight end Cade Otton. He made some waves earlier this offseason when he mentioned making the Pro Bowl was a goal for him this season, and it seems experts are taking that statement to heart.
Cade Otton is one skill away from being a breakout star for the Buccaneers
Marcus Mosher over at The 33rd Team looked at some potential breakout candidates at tight end this year and included Cade Otton on his list. Not only that, but Mosher pointed out the one thing that Otton needs to do to take the leap and truly have a breakout season this year.
"Otton is still developing as a blocker, but the Buccaneers give him tougher assignments than Woods or Musgrave. Heading into Year 3, he should make significant strides as a blocker and play an even more prominent role in the passing game," Mosher wrote.
Last year Otton saw an increase in targets despite the fact that Dave Canales seemed hellbent on getting the run game going and also existing in the same offense as Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. The opportunities Otton saw last year are even more impressive when considering just how little Godwin was used, but all of that seems to suggest that the Bucs have a sleeping giant of an offense ready to explode.
The law of averages also factors in here, too. Tampa Bay is in desperate need of a run game, something the team has focused on in a sturctural way by investing in the offensive line. Graham Barton was this year's first round pick and he was taken partially with the idea of finding a way to fix the run game in mind.
Otton can also help grease those wheels by improving his blocking technique. He's already proven to be a valuable pass-catching element on offense, but if he can also start working his way toward being an impact run blocker then it's going to go a long way in helping him get to that Pro Bowl he has circled in Feburary.
Of course, the ideal outcome is that Otton makes the Pro Bowl in name-only, needing to sit the game out due to playing in the Super Bowl. That might seem lofty, but the Bucs feel like they're on the cusp of being truly special and Otton could be a big part of that this season.