Fresh off signing a three-year, $30 million contract extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, former Washington Huskies star tight end Cade Otton is, understandably, very excited to stay with the NFC South organization that selected him in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft.
“Our whole family’s really happy with how it worked out and being back here with a lot of people we love…and loving playing football here, it was pretty straightforward, and it went amazing,” Otton said in a press conference when asked about the free agency process.
Over his four years in the NFL, Otton has racked up 207 catches for 2,018 yards and 11 touchdowns, and has proven to be an extremely reliable target for quarterback Baker Mayfield. Now, with All-Pro wide receiver Mike Evans out of the picture after he signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency, he could step into a much bigger role this fall.
“He does a lot for us,” tight ends coach Justin Peelle said of Otton. “Maybe the numbers aren’t up there among the top (tight ends), but he does a lot of things that I think a lot of people don’t realize. He’s really good in the run game, obviously.
“Unselfish player, team leader on this team, does a lot for this team that I think goes unrecognized, and doesn’t say anything about it either. I think that’s just the guy he is.”
Now, with All-Pro Chris Godwin, 2025 first-round pick Emeka Egbuka, and his former UW teammate Jalen McMillan headlining Tampa Bay’s wide receiver corps, Otton may have a chance to be rewarded for all his unselfish play with the numbers to back up the investment Tampa Bay made in him over the offseason.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Former star Washington Huskies TE could be in line for banner 2026
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