Turn him loose.
If Cade Otton isn’t careful, he’s going to have the reputation of being a run-blocking tight end.
The stat-heavy Twitter account @fb_insights did a breakdown this spring about which tight ends stretched the field the most and which tight ends were more run blockers.
Joe has always thought that Otton could be used more to stretch the field than he has in recent years. And Otton can do that, too.
Anyone remember the sweet Baker Mayfield play at Seattle, where he rolled to his left and threw down the left side for Otton on a 27-yard explosive play?
And then there was the 19-yard pass play from Mayfield to Otton in the final game of the season for a touchdown. As the Sage of Tampa Bay sports, Ira Kaufman is Joe’s witness, when that play happened, out loud in the press box (against protocol), Joe said, “Where has that been all year?”
So yes, Otton can stretch the field. But he’s not used that way. In the graphic published by @fball_insights, Otton’s target depth is very much middle of the pack. Right at the league average.
However, no tight end in the NFL has been on the field for run plays last year more than Otton. Now Joe has never considered Otton the next Jimmie Giles (for fans who didn’t get to watch Giles, he was a ferocious blocker — Giles was like a nimble guard playing tight end, who also could and did stretch the field often).
Joe remembers asking tight ends coach Justin Peelle if Otton was held back to block more than usual because of all the injuries to the Bucs’ offensive line. Peelle didn’t deny it, but thought that characterization was slightly overstated.
But the numbers don’t lie. Otton logged more snaps on run plays than any other tight end. And Joe is pretty convinced if Otton couldn’t block or didn’t have the trust of coaches to block, he wouldn’t be on the field for so many run plays.
Joe sure would like to see an increase in Otton running deeper routes. Have a hunch he could expose some defenses for more explosive plays that way.
Tight End run game participation and receiving YPRR over the last two seasons pic.twitter.com/g1IAR1QYnr
— Football Insights 📊 (@fball_insights) March 2, 2026