Cade Otton runs with the football.
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Cade Otton of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs with the ball.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have lost Mike Evans, but they’re keeping another star player who was thought to be one who would exit the franchise upon the free agency period opening up. Fortunately, tight end Cade Otton has decided to stay in Tampa Bay – and he has good reason to given the contract deal he’s signed with the Bucs.
Here’s everything you should know about Cade Otton’s deal with the Tampa Bay Bucs as he has decided to stay put on Florida’s gulf coast.
The Deal Between Bucs & Otton Is Worth $30 Million With a Large Guaranteed Percentage
Ari Meirov first reported the details of Cade Otton’s deal with the Tampa Bay Bucs on X around 4:30 PM EST on March 9, 2026. The deal will last for a three-year contract worth a maximum of $30 million, a type of deal that isn’t unusual in the league. However, to honor Otton’s contributions to the franchise in the past and his talent moving forward, the Bucs have guaranteed $20 million of the total amount.
Contract terms: The #Bucs re-signed TE Cade Otton to a 3-year, $30M contract with $20M guaranteed.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 9, 2026
The contract averages $10 million per season, signaling the team’s confidence in Otton’s value within the offensive scheme. It also places him in the middle tier of starting tight end salaries across the NFL while reflecting the consistent production he’s exhibited within the Buccaneers’ franchise.
In making one of their most significant moves of the 2026 NFL free agency period, the action of retaining the tight end is by far an optimal move by the Bucs regardless of the amount agreed upon in contract negotiations. However, the deal does keep one of the offense’s most reliable contributors securely set in Tampa Bay and ensures continuity at a key position as the franchise reshapes its roster for the coming seasons.