Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles is absolutely right about surprise gem
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles is lucky to have a young, rising star at a key position.
There is not a position in the NFL that is more difficult for a rookie to find success at than tight end.
The track record over the vast majority of the sport tells you that a rookie is almost always going to fail in that role due to the remarkable, nuanced changes that occur between the college and NFL game to go along with the most difficult matchups in the sport.
Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton wasn't worried about that history.
Rather than struggling in year one while being thrust into a starting role, Otton was able to establish himself as the comfortable starter in a room filled with veterans while also destroying one of the most common principles for rookies in the NFL; the rookie tight end glass ceiling.
Otton was one of the few bright spots for the Bucs in 2022 with 42 receptions for 391 yards and two touchdowns, and such a great rookie season should have Buccaneers fans everywhere very excited to see what he can do in year two.
Everyone on the planet can see that Otton is doing everything right to grow into a top tight end in the NFL, and even Todd Bowles showed as much with his comments on the young pass-catcher when asked about his TE1 odds in 2023:
“He can be, I mean he showed some things this year," Bowles told reporters. "For a rookie he played very well, you didn't know he was a rookie – he plays very smart, he plays very tough, he's a heady ball player. He's only going to get stronger and better and I'm excited to see him.”
Bowles is absolutely right. Of course Otton can be the lead guy. Anyone else getting that job after the rookie season we just saw would be crazy.
Tampa's head coach may have then gone into the same old coaching comments about Otton being tough and smart, something that he would probably say about all of his players, but the general idea is there.
The Buccaneers coaching staff, the players, and the fans can all be in agreement about Cade Otton: he is going to be a very good football player for this team for a long time to come.
Featured image via Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
