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Buccaneers | Cade Otton the top TE option Mon Jun 27, 10:17 AM
Tampa Bay Buccaneers fourth-round pick TE Cade Otton is the best option to be the starting tight end, in the opinion of beat writer Scott Smith. Otton dealt with injuries and inconsistent quarterback play at Washington, and many draft analysts believe his college receiving numbers aren't a true indication of his potential. He's also an above-average and willing blocker.
Footballguys view: Otton will have to beat out TE Cameron Brate for the top spot on the Buccaneers depth chart. He's missed offseason workouts due to ankle surgery, so the team will ease him back into action. Otton will be eight months removed from surgery when training camp begins. The rookie has a ton of upside, but injuries held him back in college at Washington. No Buccaneers tight end is being drafted right now, so keep Otton on your waiver wire speed dial. |
Shane Vereen, from SiriusXM NFL, had some high praise for Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie TE Cade Otton. "He is going to be one of the top rookie pass catchers, in my opinion, this season. He is that good of a tight end," Vereen said.
Footballguys view: Otton has yet to practice with the Buccaneers due to offseason ankle surgery. A fourth-round pick for the Buccaneers, Otton was known as a player who could create his own space on underneath routes. We like him in dynasty formats, but in 2022 Otton begins his pro career as a backup to TE Cameron Brate. |
Cameron Brate player page
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Blaine Gabbert has the edge over QB Kyle Trask for the team's backup quarterback job, according to head coach Todd Bowles. 'I'm comfortable with Blaine,' Bowles said. 'We talk a lot. You know, we've gotten to know each other over the past couple of years. He knows this offense very well. He understands the offense very well. He knows where to go with the football because he's been in it. You know, that gives him the edge over Trask.'
Footballguys view: The Buccaneers are in a Super Bowl window so long as QB Tom Brady is under center. They need veteran insurance like Gabbert in case Brady gets banged up during the season. Trask is still a player we like in dynasty formats, and we're excited to see his progress as a passer during training camp and the preseason. |
Blaine Gabbert player page
Kyle Trask player page
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin (knee) starting the 2022 season on the Physically Unable to Perform List and missing the first six games as he continues to recover from a torn anterior cruciate ligament wouldn't be surprising to The Athletic's Greg Auman. 'The optimistic view would be that he's back practicing during preseason and close enough to be on the initial 53-man roster,' Auman writes. 'But the goal is to have him fully healthy when it matters most this season, so it wouldn't be surprising if they took a slower approach and had him on the physically unable to perform list for the first six weeks of the season, leaning on Russell Gage as the No. 2 early in the year.'
Footballguys view: Russell Gage's fantasy stock is up on this speculation, and Godwin should drop a few rounds if the fantasy draft market responds appropriately. This could focus the offense even more on Mike Evans early in the season, making him worth a second round pick, if not late first. |
Chris Godwin player page
Russell Gage player page
Greg Auman, from The Athletic, believes that Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Russell Gage could surpass four receiving touchdowns this season, something the veteran receiver has yet to do.
Footballguys view: The retirement of TE Rob Gronkowski has opened opportunity for others in the Buccaneers offense. Gage may be at the top of the list of beneficiaries now that Gronkowski has hung up his cleats. He's scored four touchdowns in each of the last two seasons, but this year Gage could be used more in the red zone. We like Gage as a WR5, but the upside is there in this offense for him to be a reliable flex play for Fantasy GMs in 2022. |
Russell Gage player page
Greg Auman, from The Athletic, reports he 'wouldn't be surprised' if Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin begins the regular season on the PUP list.
Footballguys view: Godwin tore his ACL last year in Week 15 and has been recovering ever since. Earlier reports indicate there is no timetable for his return, but most expect him to begin training camp on the PUP list. If he begins the regular season on the PUP list, that would cost Godwin the first six weeks. Fantasy GMs know he's a WR1 when healthy, but the Buccaneers are not going to rush the star back in action. |
Chris Godwin player page
Tampa Bay Buccaneers P Bradley Pinion was released Wednesday, June 22.
Link to storyRetired TE Rob Gronkowski's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, says he wouldn't be surprised if the tight end came out of retirement, either in 2022 or 2023. 'It would not surprise me if Tom Brady calls him during the season to come back and Rob answers the call,' Rosenhaus said. 'This is just my opinion but I wouldn't be surprised if Rob comes back during the season or next season.'
Footballguys view: Gronkowski is done...for now. He's been retired before, and then Gronkowski received a call from Brady and was back in the league. We'll see if he stays retired or returns at some point during the regular season. |
Rob Gronkowski player page
Free-agent DT Ndamukong Suh (Buccaneers) said he does not expect to re-sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Link to storyNdamukong Suh player page
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Jaelon Darden had issues with the deep ball early on in minicamp, but it improved over the final three days of camp. He made a couple of leaping grabs behind the defense that received reactions.
Footballguys view: Darden is a big play specialist who is built like a speed/slot receiver. He's buried on the depth chart but worth monitoring in deep dynasty formats. |
Jaelon Darden player page
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Russell Gage Jr. will have an important role in the passing attack, according to QB Tom Brady.
Footballguys view: Gage needs to have a big role to justify his three-year, $30 million deal, and the team might not have Chris Godwin to open the season after he suffered an ACL tear late last year. He's a speculative priority bench pick in PPR leagues with fantasy starter upside because of his quarterback, offense, and opportunity. |
Russell Gage player page
Tampa Bay Buccaneers fourth-round P Jake Camarda signed his four-year rookie deal, the team announced Thursday, June 9. Financial terms of the contract were not immediately disclosed.
Link to storyTampa Bay Buccaneers PKs Ryan Succop and Jose Borregales are in an open competition for the starting job, head coach Todd Bowles said on Wednesday, June 8. Bowles noted that the decision will come down to how they do in the preseason.
Link to storyRyan Succop player page
Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn has shown improvement as a pass-catcher and has looked better than expected in that area this spring, head coach Todd Bowles said on Wednesday, June 8.
Footballguys view: Vaughn is the forgotten man in the Buccaneers backfield, and he's no lock for the 53-man roster. The 2020 third-round pick has not done much over the last couple of seasons and is running out of time to impress. The Buccaneers added Arizona State RB Rachaad White in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft, and he's pushing for at least the pass-catching role in the backfield. That means Vaughn may have to find his way on another team. We'll see what he can do in training camp and the preseason. |
Ke'Shawn Vaughn player page
Tampa Bay Buccaneers S Antoine Winfield Jr. (undisclosed) and LB Lavonte David (undisclosed) did not participate at mandatory minicamp on Wednesday, June 8, but were standing on the sideline.
Link to storyLavonte David player page
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WRs Russell Gage Jr. (undisclosed) and Scotty Miller (undisclosed) did not participate in mandatory minicamp on Wednesday, June 8, for the second straight day, although Gage did take part in some drills. Head coach Todd Bowles said both players are 'nicked up,' but didn't go into specifics.
Link to storyRussell Gage player page
Scott Miller player page
Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Leonard Fournette said he's weighing in around 240 pounds but expects to get down to the 220-230-pound range before the season.
Footballguys view: The Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud reports Fournette "seemed to be a little heavy and struggled some in the heat" at the first day of Buccaneers minicamp. Fournette said he's always lost weight in the summer, and he's got to after skipping voluntary OTAs then struggling with conditioning and drops early in mandatory minicamp. He's set to be the lead back for Tampa, but rookie Rachaad White may find a way to cut into his role - especially as a receiver out of the backfield. |
Leonard Fournette player page
Second-round draft choice OG Luke Goedeke (Central Michigan) signed a four-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, June 6. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.
Footballguys view: Goedeke is a future starter at guard and should give the team strong depth behind Shaq Mason at the new left guard at worst, but he could be the day one starter after Ali Marpet retired during the offseason. Aaron Stinnie, 2021 third rounder Robert Hainsey, and Nick Leverett are the other candidates for the spot. |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin (knee) could be back earlier than expected from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, his teammate and WR Cyril Grayson Jr. said. 'I think Chris is going to surprise people. I think he's going to be back sooner than everybody thinks. I'll say that,' Grayson said. 'I've been seeing him sometimes. I heard he ran 19 miles per hour the other day.'
Footballguys view: All reports have been positive about Godwin, but let's not go overboard here. The Buccaneers are going to be careful with Godwin as he continues to recover from his late-season knee injury. Godwin tore his ACL in Week 15 and has been recovering since then. The Buccaneers will ease him into action with the idea he could be ready for the start of the regular season. |
Chris Godwin player page
Free-agent TE Rob Gronkowski (Buccaneers) will not take part in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' mandatory minicamp during the upcoming week but the team remains cautiously optimistic that he will re-sign with them before training camp begins in late July.
Footballguys view: If Gronkowski is going to play it's going to be for the Buccaneers. Most around the league feel that he will re-sign with the team for one more season. He and QB Tom Brady can make one more run at a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers this season. Gronkowski may not be the same player he used to be, but Fantasy GMs know that TE1 production can come from him (he's been the no.5 and no.8 fantays TE over the last two seasons in Tampa). It's not only because of his connection with Brady but it's his presence in the red zone that helps his fantasy production. |
Rob Gronkowski player page
Free-agent DL Akiem Hicks (Bears) reportedly agreed to terms on a one-year contract worth up to $10 million with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Tuesday, May 31.
Footballguys view: This means Ndamukong Suh is unlikely to be back with the team. The Bucs also lost Jason Pierre-Paul from their championship defense, but they used each of their last two first picks on defensive linemen, so along with Hicks acquisition, Tampa has made the moves to keep the defensive line a strength despite the losses. |
Akiem Hicks player page
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Travis Jonsen was released Tuesday, May 31.
Link to storyTampa Bay Buccaneers WR Cyril Grayson is now 'truly confident' in his ability, according to offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich. 'I think he truly believes that he can get it done, and it's fun for me to see the confidence that he shows up in practice with every day,' Leftwich said. 'it's like a whole different guy from three years ago.'
Footballguys view: Grayson, undrafted out of LSU in 2017, flashed a bit with the Buccaneers late last season but was slowed by a hamstring injury. He's got sprinter's speed and can flat out fly down the field. Russell Gage should be the no.3 receiver behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. However, Grayson has speed, talent and it looked like QB Tom Brady trusted him last year on some big plays. We'll keep monitoring Grayson in deep dynasty formats. |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady (knee) said he is starting to feel fully recovered from MCL reconstruction surgery. 'And then finally getting it reconstructed last year, it felt for the first time this offseason, it's been really good,' Brady said.
Footballguys view: Brady feeling good is bad news for the rest of the league. The Buccaneers are in a Super Bowl window so long as Brady is their quarterback. With quality weapons around him on offense, Brady is a mid-tier QB1 for Fantasy GMs in 2022. |
Tom Brady player page
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Russell Gage (undisclosed) is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is not practicing during organized team activities, head coach Todd Bowles said on Wednesday, May 25. 'Well, he's a little sore right now, so we're resting him,' Bowles revealed. 'We don't need to play him right now. So, when he's here, he's getting his treatment and everything. It shouldn't be anything serious for training camp.'
Footballguys view: Keep an eye on this situation when training camp hits. Gage could be in for a larger role was WR Chris Godwin is coming back from a December ACL injury. He could be the no.2 receiver opposite of WR Mike Evans if Godwin has to miss time at the beginning of the regular season. |
Russell Gage player page
Josh Alper, from ProFootballTalk.com, reports Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles says about WR Chris Godwin "Better than where he was but not where he needs to be ... we don't put a timetable on it."
Footballguys view: A torn ACL in Week 15 means Godwin is likely to begin training camp on the PUP list. That allows the team to put him on PUP to begin the regular season if he's not quite ready. There's no need to rush him out there, so Godwin could be out for the first six weeks which would lead to more targets for WRs Mike Evans and Russell Gage. |
Chris Godwin player page
Undrafted free agents TE J.J. Howland (Yale), WR Kameron Brown (Coastal Carolina) and DL Mike Greene (James Madison) are signing undisclosed contracts with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after rookie minicamp tryouts. In addition, the Bucs waived DL Kobe Smith and WR Austin Watkins.
Link to storyAustin Watkins player page
Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE Cade Otton (ankle) has not been cleared to participate in rookie minicamp.
Footballguys view: He missed the final two games of his college career at Washington due to this ankle injury. Otton has the skill set to be a better pro than he was a collegian as he was underutilized with the Huskies. The Buccaneers get a prototypical "Y" tight end in Otton, and he loves doing the dirty work. He's not a dynamic athlete, but Otton wins contested catches regularly, knows how to use his frame to box out defenders and he digs in as a blocker. |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Leonard Fournette can 'ad-lib' his routes, according to running backs coach Todd McNair. 'That can get him in trouble,' McNair said. 'Doing the wrong thing at the wrong time.'
Footballguys view: Good thing Fournette and QB Tom Brady have good chemistry. Fournette is difficult to get off the field because he can thrive as a runner or receiver out of the backfield. The Buccaneers selected RB Rachaad White (Arizona State) in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft, and he's in line to earn work as a pass-catching back for the team. White's usage as a receiving back should cut into the opportunities Fournette gets to 'ad-lib' his routes. |
Leonard Fournette player page
Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Rachaad White is 'capable of spelling' RB Leonard Fournette, according to head coach Todd Bowles. 'He's capable of catching the ball,' Bowles said. 'He's capable of doing a lot of things.'
Footballguys view: White's game is all about explosion and making big plays in space. He gets to top speed in a hurry, and White can make defenders look silly in the open field. White has experience running routes from out wide and from the slot - in addition to what he can do on screen passes, swing passes or wheel routes from the backfield. We'll see how they work him into the offense behind Fournette. |
Free-agent TE Rob Gronkowski (Buccaneers) might have hinted at retirement in a response to a social media post from Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Leonard Fournette on Sunday, May 15. 'I wonder how many 7 jerseys I'm going to see in the stands this year,' Fournette posted, to which Gronk replied, 'I'll represent a 7 jersey in the stands for ya!'
Footballguys view: Gronkowski has yet to make a decision on playing in 2022. He says it would only take two weeks for him to get up to speed, so any decision may not come until later in the summer. |
Rob Gronkowski player page
Free-agent TE Rob Gronkowski (Buccaneers) remains undecided about playing in 2022 and there is no timetable for his decision, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said on Friday, May 13.
Footballguys view: Gronkowski doesn't need to make a decision anytime soon. In fact, we might get to training camp and the preseason before he makes a decision to play football .Gronkowski has admitted himself that it would take him only a couple of weeks to get ready to play. If he does play this season it will be for the Buccaneers with his best buddy QB Tom Brady - so now we wait (some more). |
Rob Gronkowski player page
Undrafted free-agents TE Ben Biese (Wisconsin-River Falls), OL Curtis Blackwell (Ball State), OL Dylan Cook (Montana), LB Olakunle Fatukasi (Rutgers), CB Don Gardner (South Dakota State), WR Kaylon Geiger Sr. (Texas Tech), CB Kyler McMichael (North Carolina), LB JoJo Ozougwu (Arkansas State), LB J.J. Russell (Memphis), WR Jerreth Sterns (Western Kentucky), WR Deven Thompkins (Utah State), S Nolan Turner (Clemson), LB Jordan Young (Old Dominion) signed undisclosed deals with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday, May 13.
Link to storyFifth-round CB Zyon McCollum (Sam Houston State), sixth-round TE Ko Kieft (Central Michigan) and seventh-round LB Andre Anthony (Louisiana State) reportedly agreed to terms on four-year contracts with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, May 12. Financial terms of the deals were not immediately disclosed.
Link to storyThird-round draft choice Rachaad White (Arizona State) signed a four-year contract with the tablet Buccaneers on Thursday, May 12. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.
Footballguys view: White is a fast player who can gash a defense in space. He's best used as a receiver out of the backfield, and his 48 targets in 2021 were the most of any running back in the Pac-12. White got a first down or a touchdown on 44.2 percent of his touches in college at Arizona State. As a rookie, White will serve as a change-of-pace behind starter Leonard Fournette. |
Free-agent RB Patrick Laird (Dolphins) and C Luke Juriga (Eagles) are expected to participate in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers upcoming rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.
Link to storyPatrick Laird player page
Jenna Laine, from ESPN.com, reports Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Coach Clyde Christensen said of second-year QB Kyle Trask: "I don't see him competing with Gabbert this year ... I see Gabbert being the backup and Kyle being the developmental guy." Christensen said.
Footballguys view: That makes sense. The Buccaneers have Tom Brady as their starter for one more year. They'll make a championship run, and that means a veteran like Gabbert makes more sense as the no.2 quarterback. Trask has skill as a passer, but he's still getting up to speed in the pro game. In 2023, there's a chance Trask gets a chance to move up the depth chart - whether or not that is as a potential starter is still up in the air. Monitor Trask in dynasty formats. |
Tom Brady player page
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady will be FOX's lead NFL analyst after he retires, according to Lachlan Murdoch on a FOX earnings call. "Tom will not only call our biggest NFL games with Kevin Burkhardt, but will also serve as an ambassador for us, particularly with respect to client and promotional initiatives," Fox said in a Tuesday statement.
Footballguys view: Social networking was buzzing about the move by Fox to secure Brady on Tuesday. Fox lost Troy Aikman and Joe Buck to ESPN, and they make a huge splash with this hiring of Brady. You'll have to wait a year to see Brady break down the game, as the Buccaneers kept the band together (for the most part) for one more championship run. When Brady is done playing football, he will step into the booth and could give us great insight into this game. We're looking forward to it! |
Tom Brady player page
Gronkwoski believes it won't take long for him to get up to speed if/when he comes out of retirement. "I feel like I can get ready at any time for football, like it'll take me two weeks only, so, I'm not really worried about it," he said. "It's just cool just to be doing other things and enjoying them."
Footballguys view: In this interview, Gronkowski also confirmed that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only team he'll play for. Once QB Tom Brady decided to come out of retirement, it was only going to be a matter of time before Gronkowski decided to play again as well. He hasn't officially said what he's going to do, but everyone expects Gronkowski to sign with the Buccaneers at some point before training camp. |
Rob Gronkowski player page
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers appeared to be lukewarm about re-signing free-agent DT Ndamukong Suh this offseason, even before they used their top draft pick on DT Logan Hall, in the opinion of The Athletic's Greg Auman.
Link to storyNdamukong Suh player page
Greg Auman, from The Athletic, believes it's more likely that tight end Rob Gronkowski returns to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers than retire from football.
Footballguys view: When Tom Brady came back from his one-month retirement, many thought that Gronkowski would follow him. That's not yet the case, but the door is always open for Gronkowski to stay with the Buccaneers. They spent a fourth-round pick on TE Cade Otton and currently have Cameron Brate at the top of the depth chart. |
Rob Gronkowski player page
Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE Cade Otton (ankle) is recovering from ankle surgery he had in November, but he said he will be ready for training camp.
Footballguys view: Otton is your traditional "Y" tight end who spent most of his time in college at Washington in-line with his hand in the dirt. He's physical with the football after the catch, and Otton can win 50/50 passes regularly. Otton will work as a reserve tight end as a rookie and offers little upside from a fantasy perspective. |
Undrafted free agents DB Nolan Turner (Clemson), LB Olakunle Fatukasi (Rutgers), LB Jordan Young (Old Dominion), OL Devontay Love-Taylor (Florida State), OL Curtis Blackwell (Ball State), WR Devin Thompkins (Utah State), OT Dylan Cook (Montana), LB JJ Russell (Memphis) and DB Don Gardner (South Dakota State) are signing undisclosed deals with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Link to storyUndrafted free-agents WR Kaylon Geiger (Texas Tech), CB Kyler McMichael (North Carolina) and WR Jerreth Sterns (Western Kentucky) agreed to terms with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, April 30.
Link to storyWashington TE Cade Otton was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 106th overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Footballguys view: Otton is a traditional "Y" tight end who can thrive as a blocker and receiver - but mostly as a blocker. He's got size and wins 50/50 balls regularly, but Otton needs to be better after the catch and in the red zone to be a featured part of the Buccaneers offense. |
Arizona State RB Rachaad White was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 91st overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Footballguys view: White is one of the most explosive players in this draft class. Use him in space and watch him go to work. White makes plays when nothing is there as a receiver out of the backfield. He's explosive and has great footwork - two traits that will help him be a fine reserve and big-play back for the Buccaneers offense. |
Central Michigan OT Luke Goedeke was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 57th overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Link to storyHouston DE Logan Hall was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 33rd overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Link to storyUpdating previous reports, Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Devin White's fifth-year option was exercised Wednesday, April 27.
Link to storyDevin White player page
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are more likely to select a running back on Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft than they are on Day 2, in the opinion of Pewter Report's Scott Reynolds. The Bucs previously hosted Texas A&M's Isaiah Spiller, Arizona State's Rachaad White, and Florida's Dameon Pierce, among others, for top-30 visits this offseason.
Link to story