The Denver Broncos don’t have many significant needs to address in free agency. Overall, the state of their roster is quite strong. Though there are a few positions that certainly need some fresh faces and outside talent added into the mix. One of them is the tight end group. For quite a few years now, the Broncos have struggled to find a true difference maker at the position.
Last offseason, they signed veteran Evan Engram to a lucrative two-year contract. Unfortunately, his on the field production
never matched the hype of the ‘joker’ label many attributed to him. Engram and last year’s seventh-round draft selection Caleb Lohner are currently the only two tight ends under contract for next season.
Veteran Adam Trautman, who has played a lot of football for Head Coach Sean Payton, is a free agent and Nate Adkins is a restricted free agent. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Adkins come back to Denver, though I believe the Broncos are poised to find an upgrade at the Y spot. My favorite fit for Denver in free agency is Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton. Let’s discuss why I feel he would be a great addition to the squad.
Player Profile
Tight End | Cade Otton | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 247 pounds
Age: 26 years old
Experience: 4 NFL seasons
2025 stats: 16 games played with 16 starts. 59 receptions on 81 targets for 572 receiving yards and 1 receiving touchdown. 25 first down catches with 73-percent catch-rate.
Should the Broncos sign tight end Cade Otton?
A little while back, I mentioned Cade Otton as one of three players that I’d love to see the Broncos pursue in free agency. Quite simply, the Broncos need a Y tight end who is capable of seeing a lot of playing time and can help kickstart Denver’s rushing attack in heavier personnel settings. There are a lot of talented tight ends in free agency, but I’d argue Otton’s skill set is what Denver could use the most moving forward.
In four years with the Buccaneers, Otton has appeared in 63 games with 58 starts. On 300 career targets, he notched 207 catches for 2,018 yards and 11 touchdowns. A concern with Otton has been drops with 17 across four seasons. However, last year he improved significantly in that regard and only had one on 81 targets.
Don’t expect Otton to put up big numbers as a receiver, but his production over his four-year career has been more than adequate. He has tallied several 100-yard games in his career. By all accounts, he has answered the call when implemented as a big part of Tampa Bay’s aerial attack.
Since being drafted in the fourth round in 2022, the former Washington Huskies standout has played in 3,716 of Tampa Bay’s offensive snaps. He has averaged over 92-percent of their offensive snaps for the past three years. That’s hefty playing time and experience. Otton is also quality blocker and would prove to be an upgrade over Trautman in that department.
Why the Broncos will not sign Cade Otton in free agency.
Otton may not be a household name, but teams in the market for an inline tight end that can be a safety valve in the passing game and improve their run blocking will certainly be in on him. Quite frankly, I don’t feel that there will be a shortage of suitors for his talent. There is a good chance he could command over $9 to $10 million on his next contract. That’s a fairly large price to pay, but keep in mind Denver has virtually no long-term investment at the position beyond this season.
Final Thoughts
It’s no secret that I’m high on Otton. As mentioned above, some may balk at that AAV, but he is a quality player that would make the offense better in a few ways. They need a guy who can get open and be a chain mover in the passing game, and there is no doubt they need a guy who can be an asset as a blocker establishing the run. While there may be more talented players with dynamic receiving ability (think Kyle Pitts), I think Otton is the type of player Denver needs to add to the position group.
What do you think, Broncos Country? Would you be in favor of the Broncos adding Cade Otton during free agency? Or would you prefer them to find a different player at the position. Sound off in the comments section and let me know.
