Bucs Could Target Tight End Via Trade

The lack of tight finish Rob Gronkowski to retirement left a large gap on the place for the Bucs. After all the ever regular Cam Brate continues to be on the roster, however the depth behind him is essentially unknown.

Figuring out the uncertainty on the place Tampa Bay addressed it within the draft not as soon as, however twice. Deciding on Washington’s Cade Otton within the fourth spherical and Minnesota’s Ko Kieft within the sixth spherical. Each carry totally different talent units to the membership, as Otton is a extra conventional Y tight finish. Whereas Kieft is understood for his tenacious blocking.

Sadly Otton has but to take the sector for the Bucs as he recovers from an ankle harm. Whereas Kieft has proven some surprisingly good arms throughout offseason camps.

Although the participant with the most important likelihood to lastly crack the roster is Codey McElroy. McElroy has been with the membership since 2019, discovering a solution to stick round on the apply squad. It’s now or by no means although for the 29-year previous tight finish who has only one recption for 30 yards in his profession. The Bucs even have a pair of undrafted gamers with Ben Beise and JJ Howland.

So what does this all imply?

Properly, it ought to imply the Bucs aren’t carried out including to the place. We’ve laid out a number of veteran choices the Bucs may signal, however may they make a commerce so as to add to the place?

The Goal

Now there’s not precisely a sturdy commerce market in relation to the tight finish place. The largest identify probably out there may be Dallas’ Dalton Schultz.

Schultz was given the franchise tag this offseason, however seems to be at a stalemate with the Cowboys over a brand new contract. On the books for $10.9 million, the Bucs may take in that quantity into their $12 million in accessible cap area. Nonetheless, in the event that they needed to decrease that quantity, they would want to commerce for him earlier than the July fifteenth deadline for extending gamers on franchise tags.

Final season with the Cowboys, Schultz completed with 78 receptions, 808 yards and eight touchdowns. He had 43 of his catches transfer the chains for first downs and averaged a wholesome 10.4 yards per catch. Schultz was additionally efficient as a blocker, ending with a 69.9 run blocking grade and a 68.1 cross blocking grade from PFF. By comparability, Gronkowski ended the 2021 season with a 54.2 run blocking grade and a 68.6 cross blocking grade.

The Compensation

That is the place it will get tough. The Bucs have already traded away one future choice. Buying and selling their 2023 fourth-rounder to maneuver again into this years draft to pick nook Zyon McCollum. But the group is anticipated to obtain compensatory fifth- and seventh-round choices as a result of losses of Jordan Whitehead and O.J. Howard.

Two years in the past, the Falcons traded for Hayden Hurst from the Ravens. They gave up second- and fifth-round picks whereas receiving a fourth-rounder again. Which may be too wealthy for the Bucs, particularly while you determine in a brand new deal into the combo as properly. However maybe the Cowboys, who traded Amari Cooper for only a fifth-round choice and a swap of sixth-round picks, would take much less.

The soon-to-be 26 12 months previous sat out the ultimate week of OTA’s displeased over his present contract scenario and lack of progress in direction of a long run deal. For the Bucs to land the tight finish they might should be prepared to half with a third-round choice and provides him a brand new deal. One thing near the three-year $37.5 million deal Hunter Henry acquired or the four-year $50 million deal Jonnu Smith signed final offseason.

The Match

Whereas not the imposing blocking tight finish Gronk is, Schultz is likely one of the higher receivers on the place within the sport and continues to be a really succesful blocker. Final season he noticed over 100 targets within the Cowboys offense. That was with Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup and extra consuming up targets as properly. His addition would take the load off Brate, whereas permitting Otton and Kieft time to rise up to hurry to the professional sport.

Tom Brady loves the tight finish place and makes use of them usually as security valves. Including a bonafide playmaker to the place would solely improve his arsenal of weapons. Schultz ranked third amongst all tight ends in receptions, sixth in targets and receiving yards and fifth in touchdowns. He was PFF’s sixth ranked tight finish final season, one spot forward of Gronkowski. So, he would offer a dependable possibility within the passing sport.

After all, that is all predicated beneath the belief the Cowboys are prepared to maneuver Schultz. But when they’re, the Bucs received’t do higher than Schultz as they attempt to substitute Gronkowski. Normal supervisor Jason Licht has been in a position to pull off some unbelievable offers throughout his tenure. This all-in transfer could be simply one other feather in his cap.