Cade
Otton.
Cade
Otton.
Washington· 6'5"· 247 lb
"A textbook throwback Y-tight end with exceptional inline blocking mechanics, reliable hands in traffic, and the high-IQ football instincts to become an immediate decade-long starter."Pre-draft read
Otton operates as an authentic classical Y-tight end whose baseline value is anchored by technique, functional frame leverage, and clean inline mechanics. Washington relied heavily on his ability to attach to the tackle, establish base width at the point of attack, and climb efficiently on zone combinations while maintaining soft hands across the short-to-intermediate seam.
While lacking explosive field-tilting twitch or vertical separation burst, Otton compensates with savvy route tempo and subtle body shielding at the catch point. He is a trustworthy checkdown valve on boot-action designs who executes contested chain-moving grabs in congested middle-field traffic.
Pro-style West Coast / Wide-Zone offense
Immediate TE2 inline contributor with high-end ceiling as an ironman TE1 every-down starter
Spread-to-run vertical offenses requiring explosive perimeter detachment and deep slot seam stretching
Excels on boot-action, intermediate crossers, and split-zone seal blocks where technique trumps raw speed.
COMPLETE TE || Washington TE Cade Otton Highlights
Comprehensive college highlight reel showing contested catches and seam routes at Washington.
Cade Otton || Washington Highlights || 2022 Draft Prospect
Pre-draft tape showcasing inline blocking technique and intermediate hands.
Cade Otton (Washington) 2022 NFL Draft Film Study
Film room breakdown analyzing route nuances and red-zone effectiveness.
Cade Otton entered the 2022 draft cycle as one of the safest, most mechanically refined tight end prospects in the country, having served as a multi-year linchpin for Washington's pro-style offense. Built with a sturdy frame, reliable hand placement, and extensive experience executing attached blocking assignments, Otton projected as an immediate day-one plug-and-play contributor for balanced NFL run schemes.
Across 39 collegiate appearances in Seattle, Otton hauled in 91 passes for 1,026 yards and nine touchdowns, earning first-team All-Pac-12 recognition during the shortened 2020 campaign. A season-ending ankle injury suffered in November 2021 halted his senior year and prevented testing at the NFL Scouting Combine, yet scouts valued his tape consistency, high football intelligence, and low-maintenance profile.
Consensus boards viewed Otton as an early-to-mid Day 3 target who lacked dynamic flex receiver athletic traits but possessed a virtually nonexistent bust floor as a functional inline starter. Tampa Bay identified his readiness at pick 106 to solidify their dual-threat tight end room post-Rob Gronkowski.
- 01
Inline blocking base
Sets a firm, wide platform at the point of attack, sustaining drive blocks on edge defenders and sealing backside cutback lanes on outside zone.
- 02
Sure-handed contested catcher
Catches cleanly away from his frame with strong mitts, securing tough throws while absorbing immediate hits over the middle of the field.
- 03
Pro-style conceptual nuance
Mastered complex NFL route conversions, displaying acute awareness versus zone coverage to sit in vacant second-level throwing windows.
- 04
Consistent route leverage
Uses subtle shoulder leans and deceptive stem pacing to create separation at the top of intermediate crossers and stick routes.
- 05
High football character
Praised by Husky coaches for exemplary locker room leadership, competitive blocking effort on every rep, and exceptional preparation habits.
- 01
Modest vertical explosion
Lacks high-end straight-line speed to consistently threaten deep safeties or stretch Cover 2 seams down the middle of the field.
- 02
Limited post-catch shiftiness
Rarely creates unassisted yards after the catch, relying on forward falling momentum rather than breaking tackles in open space.
- 03
Injury recovery timeline
Missed the end of the 2021 collegiate season and skipped pre-draft athletic testing following surgical repair on his ankle.
- 04
Restricted perimeter flex usage
Fits best aligned attached as a traditional Y-TE rather than operating as an isolated mismatch weapon in the slot or out wide.
| Yr | Team | G | Rec | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Washington | 14 | 13 | 174 | 3 |
| 2019 | Washington | 13 | 32 | 344 | 2 |
| 2020 | Washington | 4 | 18 | 258 | 3 |
| 2021 | Washington | 8 | 28 | 250 | 1 |
| Career | — | 39 | 91 | 1026 | 9 |
2020 and 2021 stats verified via cfbstats (team 756, player 1089947); 2018 and 2019 verified via official Washington athletic records. Redshirted 2017.
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
Most probable career trajectory: a rock-solid, durable starting tight end who handles inline dirty work while averaging 45 to 60 dependable receptions annually.
Ceiling scenario of a masterclass inline technician who creates separation through route leverage and wins constantly on crucial third downs.
Floor projection if athletic limitations cap passing game utility, restricting him to a designated blocking TE2 role.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
Drafted 106th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Otton quickly earned the trust of quarterback Tom Brady, seizing the starting tight end role as a rookie and catching 42 passes for 391 yards and two touchdowns in 2022. By 2023, he solidified himself as an every-down ironman under Baker Mayfield, logging a team-high 97% offensive snap share while posting 47 receptions and four touchdowns. His 2024 campaign cemented his starter credentials with a career-high 59 catches for 600 yards, highlighted by clutch postseason scoring and reliable chain-moving production.
In hindsight, Otton represents the blueprint fourth-round tight end hit: a technically sound, multi-dimensional starter whose tape translated cleanly to NFL Sundays without requiring a transition period. While he may never attain Pro Bowl receiving volume or elite mismatch pedigree, his durability, blocking tenacity, and steady third-down hands have provided Tampa Bay with continuous top-tier positional stability, outperforming numerous higher-drafted peers from the 2022 class.