Coming into the 2024 season, Bucs tight finish Cade Otton had some large private targets for himself. Not solely did Otton need to make the 2025 Professional Bowl, however he additionally needed to turn into a “great blocker.”
Whereas he did not get a Professional Bowl nod as 49ers tight finish George Kittle and Cardinals tight finish Trey McBride signify the place for the NFC, he succeeded in making strides as a blocker and as a pass-catcher.
In his third season, the younger tight finish had profession highs throughout the board with 59 receptions for 600 receiving yards whereas tying the 4 touchdowns he had in 2023. After the season, what have been Otton’s ideas when reflecting on what he got down to do?
Cade Otton: “I Just Felt Like I Got Better”
Bucs TE Cade Otton – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Pewter Report caught up with Cade Otton as he and the remainder of the Bucs gamers have been cleansing out their lockers and heading into the offseason after falling by the hands of the Commanders within the Wild Card Spherical.
Whereas many gamers have been nonetheless reeling from the defeat and understandably glum about the way it ended, Otton had an optimistic view of how the season performed out for him.
“I just felt like I got better,” Otton mentioned concerning the strides he made this yr. “That’s the goal every day, every week, every season. Just want to improve and be the best player I can be for the team. I do feel like I accomplished that this year.”
After huge receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin went down with accidents midseason in opposition to the Ravens, it was Otton who stepped up because the No. 1 goal within the passing recreation till Evans’ return.
He went on a three-game run as the best tight finish in soccer, hauling in 25 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns. In simply three weeks, that equated to simply over 40% of his season totals in receptions and yards – and 75% of his touchdowns.
Whereas Otton will look to be extra constant inside offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s offense subsequent yr, he believes that he and the opposite tight ends within the room match effectively within the system.
“He does an awesome job changing up looks, spreading the ball around,” Otton mentioned about Coen’s offense. “Different run schemes, different pass schemes. I feel like I helped accomplish some of those things. All of the other tight ends did. We took pride in being able to just do whatever the coaches asked of us and we all did it really well.”
Cade Otton Is Not The Solely Promising Bucs’ Tight Finish In The Room
Bucs TEs Payne Durham and Cade Otton – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Whereas Cade Otton had his greatest season but in 2024, he was not the one Bucs tight finish who made probably the most of his alternatives. When Otton went down late within the common season with a knee damage, Payne Durham and Devin Culp didn’t miss a beat filling in.
Durham had two touchdowns in as many video games, whereas Culp went from inactive to very energetic with 5 receptions for 88 yards throughout Weeks 17 and 18.
The starter was very complimentary of his backups, and every will proceed rising and serving to one another enhance.
“Both great players, great guys, and really hard workers,” Otton mentioned. “We just had a lot of fun coming into the facility every single day. We keep it light, but we also put our noses to the grindstone and work to get better. You see it show up with them when they get their opportunities to play, and they make plays.”
After drafting a decent finish on Day 3 of the NFL Draft in 2022, 2023, and 2024, the Bucs should not more likely to spend one other decide on the place this offseason. As an alternative, will probably be as much as this trio in addition to Ko Kieft to harness their skillsets and take advantage of their possibilities. Below the steering of tight ends coach Justin Peelle this previous season, they appeared to be ready for no matter was “thrown” their method.
“They were one of the groups that had the fewest mental errors during the season as well,” head coach Todd Bowles mentioned when discussing the group at his end-of-season press convention. “Coach [Justin] Peelle does a great job getting Cade [Otton] ready, getting Payne [Durham], getting [Devin] Culp ready, having Ko [Kieft] available, using different types of guys to do what they do best.”
Cade Otton Shares How Baker Mayfield’s Management Is “Special”
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and TE Cade Otton – Picture by: Jeffrey Jones/PR
Cade Otton didn’t simply converse extremely of his fellow tight ends, but in addition about his quarterback, Baker Mayfield. Mayfield had a profession yr himself and the 2 share a singular bond, even when he was sad when Otton shaved his mustache and later his hair.
“Baker, as you come to know him, is such a personable guy,” Otton mentioned. “Who he is with you guys is who he is with us. He jokes around, he’s nice, he’s fun, but he’s also super competitive. We’re able to have conversations all the time – life, joking around, or football. I haven’t been to any other place, I’ve only worked with one other quarterback [in Tom Brady], but I think it’s pretty special with how he operates and leads our team.”
Circling again to Otton’s look, there may be not much more he can do to vary up his fashion. No matter what Mayfield thinks, that call will come right down to his spouse’s verdict.
“It’s a good question, there’s not too many other combinations I can do,” Otton mentioned about what he would do along with his hair subsequent season. “We’ll see what the wife suggests or approves. She’s number one, but she actually suggested the buzzcut. She liked it, and the mustache she also likes [laughs]. We’ll see what’s next, nothing really planned.”
