Tight end Cade Otton, one of the Bucs' most durable offensive weapons, re-signed with the club on Thursday. In 2026, Otton will work with his fifth offensive coordinator since joining the team in 2022. Zac Robinson will assume the role and call plays this season after occupying the offensive coordinator role with Atlanta for the previous two years and Otton is looking forward to a fresh start, motivated by the collective efficiency of the unit.
"I do have full confidence in what Coach Robinson is going to do to put us all in position to succeed," noted Otton. "I think the end result will be us scoring more points and us having more red zone opportunities as a tight end group and as an offense as a whole. It is clear that we have to improve in those areas but whether the touchdowns are to me or someone else, I just want our offense to be humming and to have team success."
Otton has appeared in 63 career games (58 starts) in his four seasons with the Buccaneers since being drafted in the fourth round in 2022. During his tenure in Tampa Bay, Otton has posted 207 receptions for 2,018 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Among tight ends, Otton ranks fifth in franchise history for receiving yards and receptions and is tied for the seventh-most receiving touchdowns.
Over the past two seasons, Otton has ranked in the NFL's top 10 among tight ends in receptions (118) and receiving yards (1,172). He also set a career high in receptions in 2024 with 59, matching that mark again in 2025. Due to his multi-faceted skillset as both a pass-catcher and blocker, Otton rarely comes off the field. He has the ability to run a variety of routes, including wheels, options and out-breakers, and he is a magnet to voids in coverage versus zone. Otton is a threat underneath and is adept at separating from coverage at the break point. He possesses twitchy hands and has a stout strike at the point of attack when blocking or on chip-and-releases. Quarterback Baker Mayfield played a role in Otton's decision to return to Tampa Bay and the fifth-year tight end aims to continue refining his connection with the Bucs' signal-caller.
"I just think the time and the reps that we can spend together, it is going to be huge and just a healthy offseason … Three years with him, he is just a great quarterback and I think he is going to be fired up for the opportunity that we have having been with Coach Robinson in the past and I am just excited to keep working with him," said Otton. "He was a huge draw for me being here in Tampa … He is going to give us the best chance to win a Super Bowl."
