Analyst has interesting underappreciated player choice for Buccaneers originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will embark on the 2026 season under immense pressure across the organization after last season’s failure.
Todd Bowles is in the hot seat, and Baker Mayfield is entering a contract year, so the Buccaneers have to get this thing back on track, and one way to do that is to have everyone buy in and play their role.
Yes, there are the big stars like Chris Godwin and Vita Vea who many look at, but there are others who could also be part of the push back to the playoffs.
NFL.com’s Tom Blair has named an underappreciated player for each NFC team, and he’s landed on Cade Otton for the Buccaneers.
“Otton, meanwhile, has been there for Mayfield, ranking second on the team in targets in each of the past two years and second in total offensive snaps over Mayfield’s three years with the team (behind only Mayfield himself),” Blair wrote.
“Mayfield definitely has enjoyed more success with Otton than with any other NFL tight end, and I imagine seeing the big target out there is plenty comforting — well worth the $10 million Otton is getting from the Bucs per year on the extension he signed in March.”
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Can Otton be “the” guy for Mayfield?
He can, and he’s proven to be a dependable target with 600 and 572 yards in the last two seasons, along with a combined 5 TDs and 59 receptions in each year.
But with Mike Evans no longer on the roster, I get the sense everyone will need to take a step up in production, starting with Godwin and Emeka Egbuka, and then Otton as the starting tight end.
An unassuming talent, Otton has been productive with Mayfield over the past two seasons, but in 2026, he might have to have a greater impact on games to help cover the loss of Evans.
With Godwin, Egbuka, and Bucky Irving as the “top” weapons, the underappreciated Otton could feast in a way we haven’t seen before.
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