Cade Otton’s time in Tampa Bay may be winding down. The Buccaneers' tight end is set to hit free agency this spring, and while he closed out the 2025 regular season with arguably his best performance of the year, it might not be enough to earn him a second contract in pewter and red.
In a must-win Week 18 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, Otton hauled in seven catches on nine targets for 94 yards-a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating campaign. That effort pushed his season catch rate to a career-best 72.8%, but the numbers tell only part of the story.
Despite that late surge, Otton’s overall production plateaued in his fourth year, and his struggles as a blocker were hard to ignore. For a team that values versatility at the tight end spot, especially in a system that leans on play-action and run support, Otton’s inconsistency in that department was a problem.
The Bucs are facing several roster decisions this offseason, and Otton’s situation is one of the easier calls. With needs stacking up on the defensive side of the ball and a tight cap sheet to manage, Tampa Bay may opt to let Otton walk and look for a more complete option at the position-either in free agency or, more likely, through the draft.
And if they’re going the draft route, there’s a name that’s already generating buzz around One Buc Place: Kenyon Sadiq.
The Oregon Ducks standout officially declared for the 2026 NFL Draft following his team’s College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Indiana, and he’s entering the process as the consensus top tight end in the class. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that Sadiq is firmly on the radar for teams picking in the middle of the first round, and he’s been frequently linked to the Buccaneers at No. 15 overall.
Sadiq checks a lot of boxes. He’s currently ranked No. 10 overall on Mel Kiper Jr.’s big board, and he led all college tight ends with eight touchdown receptions this past season-serving as a go-to target for Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, a projected top-two QB prospect in this year’s draft.
What makes Sadiq so intriguing isn’t just the production-it’s the physical profile. He’s a rare blend of size, speed, and explosiveness, with the kind of athleticism that allows him to line up in the slot and stretch the field vertically.
He’s still a bit raw as a route runner and isn’t the most polished pass catcher just yet, but the upside is undeniable. And for a player who’s still developing, he already shows more promise as a blocker than Otton, which could give him an early edge in earning snaps at the next level.
In short, Sadiq is the kind of prospect that can change the dynamic of an offense. He’s a mismatch weapon in the red zone, a reliable safety valve over the middle, and a potential tone-setter in the run game. If the Bucs are serious about building around Baker Mayfield and turning this offense into one of the league’s most dangerous units, surrounding their quarterback with high-upside talent like Sadiq could be the next step.
Letting Otton walk would be a business decision. Drafting Sadiq? That would be a statement.