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_“Just keep doing what you’re doing, Cade.”_
No NFL tight end runs more routes per game this season than Cade Otton, the only Tampa Bay tight end to catch a pass this season.
Otton has the league lead at a whopping 35 per game, a sniff ahead of workhorse Trey McBride in Arizona, per reputable Sumer Sports. Official NFL Pro data has a slightly different number, but regardless, Otton is on pace for career highs in routes run, per the NFL and Sumer Sports. He’s also on track for 66 receptions. That total would be a career high.
Folks at One Buc Palace were pushing the notion that Otton was staying in to pass block so much early this season that he couldn’t catch a pass. OK. Got it.
Otton is marching toward a fat contract when his runs out in a few months. The guy has been such a durable and versatile performer that Joe’s not sure how the Bucs could make sense of throwing Otton to the curb. He’s a solid starter, and the Bucs don’t have one behind him.
Otton also has a career high catch rate of 72.9 percent to date.
Back-to-back Bucs picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, Rachaad White (third round) and Otton (fourth round) are angling for offseason contracts. Joe would say Otton is winning that battle through nine games.