Joe Royer
Getty
Cincinnati tight end Joe Royer.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a ‘Meh’ investment in the future of their tight end position by bringing veteran Cade Otton on a 3-year, $30 million free-agent contract.
Dropping that kind of cash on Otton seems kind of reflective of where the Buccaneers are at right now in terms of bringing back low-performing assets from 2025 for another run in 2026 – a group that includes head coach Todd Bowles.
We do have some evidence that the Buccaneers are thinking about the future, including bringing University of Cincinnati tight end Joe Royer in for a Top 30 visit.
“Another day another 30 Visit & another TE?!!” NFL reporter Jace Allen wrote on his official X account on Tuesday. “Bucs are hosting Cincinnati TE Joe Royer on an official 30 visit, per sources. Royer marks the 4th TE the Bucs have brought in behind Oscar Delp, Villari, and Mas Klare. At 6’5, 247 he has good size and soft hands but needs work as a blocker.”
Royer Left Big Ten Powerhouse For Bearcats
Royer spent the first 3 seasons of his career at Ohio State, where he was buried on the depth chart and only had 4 receptions for 24 yards and no touchdowns. He transferred to Cincinnati and had a breakout season in 2024 with 50 receptions for 521 yards and 3 touchdowns.
So far, The Ringer’s Todd McShay is the only draft insider to project Royer into the first round. Royer broke 3-time Super Bowl champion tight end Travis Kelce’s single-season receptions record at Cincinnati in 2024.
“Royer set a UC single-season record by a tight end with 50 catches in 2024,” Sports Illustrated’s Russ Heltman wrote on May 5. “He turned those into 522 receiving yards and three touchdowns. It amounted to a 65.4 overall Pro Football Focus grade across 657 snaps. His run-blocking is the biggest weakness to beef up. If Royer can improve a 52.3 PFF run-blocking grade from 2024, he very well could be selected in the first 32 picks.”
Through the first 3 games of the 2025 season, Royer has 8 receptions for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Bearcats have had several tight ends drafted in the last 2 decades who went on to become NFL standouts. Brent Celek was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round (No. 162 overall) of the 2007 NFL draft and played all 11 of his NFL seasons there, retiring after an upset win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.
More famously, the Kansas City Chiefs drafted tight end Travis Kelce in the third round (No. 63 overall) of the 2013 NFL draft. Kelce is a 7-time NFL All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler, 3-time Super Bowl champion, and one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history.
Fans Not Happy Bucs Sticking With Cade Otton
Plenty of fans thought the Buccaneers would have been smart to let Otton leave in free agency and go after a different tight end on the open market, or just turn to a rookie like Royer to try and see if they’re up to the task.
Otton was also called out for not wearing football gloves when he plays. Which is a major advantage to anyone trying to catch a football.
“Hopefully 2026 brings him a pair of gloves,” X user Doug Michael wrote.