March 1, 2026, 4:01 a.m. ET
The Washington Commanders need a new receiving tight end in 2026. That doesn’t mean Washington has given up on rising third-year tight end Ben Sinnott. No, in fact, Sinnott’s role could grow under new offensive coordinator David Blough. However, Sinnott will likely be moved around on offense, and the Commanders need someone to replace Zach Ertz’s production at tight end.
The good news for Washington is that it’s a good year to need a tight end. While the Atlanta Falcons placed the franchise tag on Kyle Pitts, several quality free-agent options remain. Isaiah Likely of the Baltimore Ravens is most often linked to the Commanders. Many feel Likely, who has split time with Mark Andrews for the past four seasons, is about to break out as a clear No. 1 tight end.
Chig Okonkwo of the Tennessee Titans is in a similar boat. Both are young and athletic. While Likely had Lamar Jackson as his quarterback, Okonkwo seemingly played with a new quarterback every year.
Veteran David Njoku is another quality option. However, the free agent that hardly anyone is talking about is Cade Otton of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Like Okonkwo and Likely, Otton is heading into free agency at the right time. The 6-foot-5, 247-pounder was a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Washington. In those four seasons, the 26-year-old Otton has caught 207 passes for 2,018 yards and 11 touchdowns.
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Otton has missed only four games in his career and is coming off back-to-back seasons in which he has caught 59 passes. Other NFL teams know all about Otton. He’s been somewhat limited in Tampa Bay’s offense and could be poised for a more significant one elsewhere.
In Gregg Rosenthal’s Top 100 free agents on NFL.com, he has Otton listed at No. 18 overall — and the top tight end.
Welcome to Cade Otton Island, where you can run any offense you want while never giving an inch in the run game. In our growing two-tight end world, every NFL team needs an Otton.
Otton’s numbers over the last two seasons are very similar to those of Ertz. If Washington signed Otton and he caught 60 passes, the Commanders would be thrilled. Sinnott and John Bates will be involved in the passing game, too. And unlike Ertz at this stage of his career, Otton offers something as a blocker, too, so he’s not a liability in the run game.
Don’t assume Otton will be cheap. Likely, Okonkwo and Otton will earn more on the free-agency market than most realize. Otton is projected to earn a three-year, $23.7 million contract via Spotrac. That would be a bargain.