He’s not leaving. Cade Otton, the tight end who has quietly become one of Baker Mayfield’s most trusted weapons in Tampa Bay, is coming back to the Buccaneers, and he’s not just signing a one-year “let’s see how this goes” deal. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Jenna Laine, Otton is locked in for three years. Three. Years.
For Bucs fans who spent the offseason refreshing their phones and stress-eating, this one’s for you.
Who Is Cade Otton, and Why Does He Matter So Much to Tampa Bay?
Let’s set the scene. It’s 2022. The Buccaneers are fresh off the Tom Brady era, trying to figure out what life looks like without the greatest quarterback of all time under center. Into that chaos walks Cade Otton, a fourth-round pick out of the University of Washington, quiet, dependable and ready to do the unglamorous work that makes offenses tick.
Nobody handed him anything. He earned every snap.
In four seasons with Tampa Bay, Otton has started 58 of 63 career games. Think about that for a second. That’s not a player who shows up when it’s convenient. That’s a guy who suits up, does his job, and doesn’t make excuses. He’s missed just five games in four years due to injury. For a tight end, a position that takes a beating every single week, that’s borderline remarkable.
The Numbers Don’t Lie (Even When They’re a Little Messy)
Now, let’s be honest. Otton’s stats aren’t going to make anyone forget Rob Gronkowski. His numbers have fluctuated sometimes frustratingly so, depending on the health of the Bucs’ receiving corps and the state of an offensive line that, in 2025, looked like it was running on prayers and duct tape.
Last season, Otton hauled in 59 catches for 572 yards and one touchdown. Not flashy. Not the kind of stat line that gets you on the cover of Madden. But that one touchdown? It came in a must-win game against the Carolina Panthers, a clutch 18-yard grab down the middle from Baker Mayfield in the first quarter. When the moment mattered most, Otton was there.
His best season came in 2024: 59 receptions, 600 yards, and four touchdowns. He also had four touchdowns in 2023, though that year came with a career-high five drops and two fumbles, a rough patch that reminded everyone he’s human, not a machine.
Why the Buccaneers Were Right to Bring Him Back
Here’s the thing about players like Cade Otton. They don’t always show up in highlight reels. You won’t see his name trending on Twitter after a 90-yard touchdown bomb. But ask any offensive coordinator worth their dry-erase marker, and they’ll tell you a tight end who shows up every week, runs the right route, and catches the ball when the game is on the line is worth his weight in gold.
Tampa Bay knows what they have. A reliable, physical presence who has grown with this team through transition, turbulence, and a whole lot of offensive line injuries. Re-signing Otton for three years isn’t just a transaction; it’s a statement. This team is building something, and Otton is a cornerstone of that effort.
What This Means for Baker Mayfield and the 2026 Bucs Offense
Baker Mayfield now knows his safety valve is back. When the pocket collapses, and in the NFL, it will collapse, Mayfield can look to Otton and trust that the ball will be caught, the chain will move, and the drive will continue. That kind of reliability is not something you find in free agency on a budget. You hold onto it when you have it.
With Otton locked up, the Buccaneers can now focus on building out the rest of the roster around a tight end who has proven, over four seasons, that he belongs in this league.
Tampa Bay made the right call. Cade Otton is a Buccaneer, and for the next three years, he’s exactly where he should be.
