As Cade Otton enters his fourth year in Tampa Bay, he remains a steady, reliable presence in the Buccaneers‘ offensive scheme, especially when it comes to red-zone production. While not a flashy playmaker, Otton’s combination of route discipline, hands, and quarterback trust makes him a legitimate scoring option in an offense that’s evolving but still leans on its tight end in key moments.
In 2024, Otton finished with four receiving touchdowns despite sharing the field with a deep wide receiver group. His scores came in tightly contested areas of the field, including several in red-zone situations where spacing is tight.
Otton’s production wasn’t overwhelming, but it was timely. His ability to win on option routes, seams, and pivots made him an outlet for Baker Mayfield when coverage rolled toward Mike Evans or Chris Godwin Jr. He saw 87 targets on the year and played over 850 offensive snaps, a sign of the coaching staff’s continued trust in his every-down capabilities.
Otton is likely to retain a full-time role, especially as the Buccaneers continue to use him in 11 and 12-personnel packages. But there’s reason to believe his touchdown numbers could see a modest bump as Chris Godwin Jr. may miss a few early games recovering from ankle surgery, opening the door for Otton to take on more red-zone routes and third-down targets. Additionally, First-round rookie Emeka Egbuka will need time to adjust to NFL spacing, which could temporarily shift more opportunities toward veterans like Otton.
Offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard has favored structured, timing-based red-zone designs, often favoring tight ends in compressed field situations.
Predicted 2025 Total: 7 touchdowns