Bucs TE Kyle Rudolph is a healthy scratch for tonight's game vs. the Cowboys. TEs Cameron Brate, Cade Otton and Ko Kieft are active.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles said Wednesday that he expects the team's TE production without Rob Gronkowski to be made up with the WRs and RBs. In other words, the answer to which Bucs TE to target in fantasy football is probably none of them. Tampa has a deep WR corps with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Russell Gage and Julio Jones -- plus a couple of quality pass-catching RBs in Leonard Fournette and Rachaad White. All of those guys could play significant roles in the passing game at different points of this season.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles complimented the play of TE Cade Otton. “Cade’s a very cerebral player. You won’t see all the speed and power, but you look up and he’s always doing the right things, always in the right place. He has great hands and he understands how to play the game,” Bowles said. “I think a lot of young players don’t have that. He has that coming in, so that’s going to benefit him going forward.” Bowles noted that Otten needs to improve his play strength — standard language for a rookie. The 4th-round pick figures to see limited action alongside Kyle Rudolph and Cameron Brate, but he’s a name to monitor in dynasty circles.
Bucs TE Cade Otton (ankle) has been cleared for the start of training camp, according to The Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud. The rookie missed OTAs and minicamp after undergoing ankle surgery in November, putting him a bit behind the 8-ball. We'll see if Otton can push TE Cam Brate and newly signed TE Kyle Rudolph for snaps.
The Buccaneers have agreed to a 1-year deal with TE Kyle Rudolph, according to multiple reports. The veteran managed just 26 catches for 257 yards and 1 TD across 16 games in his lone season with the Giants after Minnesota released him following the 2020 season. It marked the 3rd straight year in which Rudolph's receptions per game declined. Obviously not a threat for big numbers in a season that will find him turning 33 in November, Rudolph still clouds the TE target picture for an offense that (at least for now) must go without Rob Gronkowski. We weren't excited about Cameron Brate or Cade Otton in any format before this signing, which certainly doesn't help either player.
Speculating on the team's replacement plan in the wake of TE Rob Gronkowski's (2nd) retirement, Scott Smith of the team website highlights the potential of 4th-round rookie Cade Otton. Smith says "there is the potential for him to be the one tight end the Buccaneers keep on the field most often," with receiving skills that "many draft analysts" believe exceed his college usage and the fact that he's "already considered an above-average and very willing blocker." Smith goes on to say that there might not be a "single clear answer" and that the Bucs could just blend Otton, fellow rookie Ko Kieft, vet Cameron Brate and perhaps 1 more player. Otton is primarily a name to know for dynasty usage, but this also serves as a reminder to temper fantasy expectations for Brate. He's likely the team's best receiving bet at the position with Gronk gone. But Brate has also played less than 40% of Tampa Bay snaps in 3 straight years. Just 2 of those included Gronkowski, and he missed 5 games in 2021.
TE Rob Gronkowski tells NFL insider Jordan Schultz that he's retiring. It's only June, of course, so there's plenty of time for Gronk to change his mind. In fact, he "retired" back in 2019 before eventually returning with QB Tom Brady and the Bucs in 2020. So we're not completely ruling out another season from Gronkowski. But he'd be tough to draft as more than a last-pick flier right now. Losing Gronk would be a big blow to a Bucs offense that lost WR Antonio Brown and has WR Chris Godwin iffy for the start of the season after tearing his ACL in December. TEs Cameron Brate and rookie Cade Otton are next up on Tampa's depth chart.
Update: Gronkowski confirmed his retirement on his Instagram. But his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, isn't totally buying it. “It would not surprise me if Tom Brady calls him during the season to come back and Rob answers the call," Rosenhaus told ESPN's Adam Schefter. "This is just my opinion but I wouldn’t be surprised if Rob comes back during the season or next season.”
The Bucs added Washington TE Cade Otton with the 1st pick of Round 4. The 6'5, 247-pounder totaled just 91 catches for 1,026 yards (11.3 YPC) and 9 TDs across 4 college seasons and doesn't look dynamic on tape. Otton is also already 23 years old. This is an intriguing landing spot, especially if TE Rob Gronkowski doesn't return for 2022. But don't overrate Otton in your dynasty rookie drafts.
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