Cade Otton Bio
Cade Otton (born April 15, 1999) is an American professional football tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 5 in and listed at 247 lb, he plays a versatile in-line and pass-catching role for the Tampa Bay offense. After starring at the University of Washington, Otton was selected by the Buccaneers in the fourth round, 106th overall, of the 2022 NFL draft.
Early Life and Background
Cade Otton was born on April 15, 1999, in Tumwater, Washington. He grew up in the same Pacific Northwest community where he would later become a local football star. Otton attended Tumwater High School in Tumwater, Washington, where he developed into a two-way player on both offense and defense.
As a senior, Otton was named The Olympian’s All-Area Football Player of the Year after a standout season on both sides of the ball. On offense, he recorded 39 receptions for 733 yards and 13 touchdowns, while on defense he posted 107 tackles and three sacks. Following that breakout year, he committed to the University of Washington to play college football.
Path to Professional Football
After arriving at Washington, Otton redshirted his first year on campus in 2017 to develop his body and learn the Huskies’ offensive system. He then broke into the rotation in 2018, playing in all 14 games with 10 starts and finishing the year with 13 receptions for 174 yards and three touchdowns. That first full season established him as a reliable pass catcher and blocker in the Pac-12 Conference.
As a sophomore in 2019, Otton started all 13 games and recorded 32 receptions for 344 yards and two touchdowns. His junior season in 2020 was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he still started all four games and earned First-team All-Pac-12 honors after posting 18 receptions for 258 yards and three touchdowns. Rather than enter the 2021 NFL draft, Otton returned to Washington for his senior year to refine his game and improve his draft stock.
Cade Otton Career
Early Career (2022 Rookie Season)
Cade Otton was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round, 106th overall, of the 2022 NFL draft. He quickly earned a role in the Buccaneers’ tight end rotation as a rookie, lining up alongside veteran options in head coach Todd Bowles’ offensive system. The transition to the NFL was smooth, with Otton leaning on his Pac-12 experience as a dependable blocker and underneath target.
One of the defining moments of his rookie year came in Week 9, when Otton caught the game-winning touchdown from Tom Brady in a 16-13 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. He finished his rookie season with 42 receptions for 391 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns across 16 games, earning 11 starts. That production gave Tampa Bay confidence that Otton could develop into a long-term contributor at the position.
Buccaneers Breakthrough (2023-2024)
In the 2023 season, Otton took on a larger role in the Buccaneers’ offense and delivered 47 receptions for 455 yards and four touchdowns across 17 games. His ability to win on crossing routes and contribute as an in-line blocker made him a fixture of the weekly game plan. The 2023 campaign positioned him as a clear building block for the team’s young offense.
The 2024 season represented a major step forward. Otton set career highs with 59 receptions and 600 receiving yards while adding four touchdowns across 14 games played. Despite missing time, he emerged as a primary target for the Buccaneers’ quarterbacks and continued to grow as a complete tight end. His blend of size, hands, and route-running earned recognition around the league as one of the more promising young tight ends in the NFC South.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2022-Present)
Since joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022, Cade Otton has remained with the franchise as a core member of the tight end room. Through his first three seasons, he has compiled 207 receptions for 2,018 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns, all while serving as a steady in-line blocker. His role within the offense has expanded each year as he has grown more comfortable with NFL defensive schemes.
On March 12, 2026, Otton re-signed with the Buccaneers on a three-year, $30 million contract, committing his prime years to Tampa Bay. The deal reflected the organization’s belief that he is a foundational piece of the passing game and the offensive line of scrimmage. Otton continues to wear number 88 for the Buccaneers and remains on the active roster.
Playing Style and Strengths
Cade Otton is known for his physical, in-line style of play, using his 6 ft 5 in frame to shield defenders and create throwing lanes. He is equally comfortable as a blocker on the edge or in the open field, and his reliable hands make him a trusted chain-moving target on underneath routes. Coaches have praised his football IQ, route detail, and willingness to do the unglamorous work in the run game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Otton’s signature moments, his game-winning touchdown catch from Tom Brady against the Los Angeles Rams in 2022 stands out as his first defining NFL memory. He also reached the milestone of 200 career receptions during the 2025 season, surpassing 2,000 receiving yards in the process. His First-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2020 remains one of the most decorated honors of his pre-professional career.
Cade Otton Career Wins
Cade Otton’s most prominent individual accomplishment is his First-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2020, earned after a productive junior season at the University of Washington. His college accolades and steady NFL production helped him earn a long-term commitment from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While tight ends rarely accumulate large win totals in the traditional sense, Otton’s milestones and team success have marked him as a steady contributor.
College Highlights
Otton’s college résumé includes 63 receptions for 776 yards and eight touchdowns across his four seasons at Washington. He added 27 starts over his final three years and served as a focal point of the Huskies’ passing attack. His decision to return for his senior season in 2021 further demonstrated his commitment to development before turning professional.
Other Honors and Performances
In high school, Otton was named The Olympian’s All-Area Football Player of the Year as a senior at Tumwater High School. That honor capped a season in which he produced 39 receptions for 733 yards and 13 touchdowns on offense, paired with 107 tackles and three sacks on defense. The award foreshadowed the all-around impact he would later bring to the college and professional ranks.
Cade Otton Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Cade Otton comes from a family with ties to the sport of football. He is the nephew of Brad Otton, a former college football quarterback who also played at the University of Washington. Cade also has a brother, Ryan Otton, who played football for the Washington Huskies, continuing the family’s strong connection to the program.
Personal Life
Cade Otton married Sierra Snyder in 2021, before the start of his senior season at Washington. The couple has been together through his transition to the NFL and his early years with the Buccaneers. Otton continues to make his off-season home in the Pacific Northwest, where he remains close to his family roots.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Cade Otton’s fourth NFL campaign and his third as a featured tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He built on his career-best 2024 totals, continuing to serve as a primary underneath target in the passing game and a dependable blocker at the line of scrimmage. His consistency helped stabilize an offense undergoing quarterback transition following the Tom Brady era.
Through the 2025 regular season, Otton reached the milestones of 200 career receptions and 2,000 career receiving yards, finishing the year as one of the most productive tight ends in the NFC South. His weekly production kept the Buccaneers competitive in close games and offered a reliable safety valve for the quarterback room.
Looking ahead, Otton’s outlook remained strong as Tampa Bay prepared for the 2026 league year. The team’s March 12, 2026 agreement on a three-year, $30 million contract extension underlined a shared belief that his best football is still ahead. With a clear role in the offense and a long-term commitment in place, Otton enters the coming seasons as a cornerstone of the Buccaneers’ passing attack.
