Slivon’s Slant: Inside The 2026 Bucs Tight End Room

Otton has not been a stat-sheet stuffer, but he does a lot of things well for his position. He has shown the ability to handle an advanced workload when the wide receiver room has been short-staffed due to injuries. Other times, he has earned his keep as a blocker while being more of a fourth or fifth option in the passing game. Based on how the offense is trending heading into this season, one can expect that to continue under Zac Robinson. It is worth highlighting Robinson being influenced by the Rams offense, which extended into him running the second-most 12 personnel in the league with the Falcons in 2025.

On one hand, that gives Otton an inside track for the lion’s share of snaps at the position. He has played over 90% of the offensive snaps each of the past three seasons. On the other hand, he will not necessarily be the focal point of play designs. Tampa Bay’s newest play-caller has a lot of mouths to feed, especially at the wide receiver position. Add in trying to involve Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell in the aerial attack, and Otton projects to once again fill a role that is not glamorous. After doing an admirable job in the past, there is nothing wrong with having him as a starter.

He is dependable and consistent, which is about all this offense needs to be successful.

Physical Presence: Payne Durham

Heading into his fourth NFL season, Payne Durham remains a bit of an enigma. Durham has flashed moments of promise as a receiver, doing his best Rob Gronkowski impersonation a couple of times with leaping catches and using every bit of his 6-foot-5, 255-pound frame to go up and get it. Yet, those moments have been few and far between during his career. He has appeared in 46 games (18 starts) but has just 17 receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns. After entering last year with the expectation of being more involved, he made only one catch for 11 yards while playing 354 offensive snaps.

As Durham told Pewter Report last summer, his focus has been on becoming a dominating blocker. That gives him a defined fit in this offense, one filled with gritty play not defined by the box score. He has admitted he is not the fastest tight end, which caps his role. At this point, he provides physicality and offers Baker Mayfield a red-zone target who gets more open as the field gets shorter.

Durham is expected to fill the blocking tight end role again this season, lining up in the backfield and pulling to take on defensive tackles and linebacker assignments to clear lanes in the run game. He is a team player willing to do whatever it takes to win. For this Bucs offense, that means dirty work and less pass-catching. He might come down with a touchdown or two but will be fired up to be out there and contribute however possible. That has enough value to make the 53-man roster, although there is more competition behind him.

Untapped Upside: Devin Culp

For all the untapped receiving ability mentioned about Payne Durham above, there is even more with Devin Culp as he is all about speed and athleticism. That was evidenced by him running a 4.47 40-yard time back at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, although that has yet to translate into much more than late-season cameos with the Bucs. His lack of playing time over the past two seasons comes down to several factors.

Whether it has been playbook mastery, blocking limitations, or simply a lack of opportunities, two offensive staffs have yet to carve out a meaningful role for him. Culp has put on a little size to improve as a blocker since entering the league, but 2026 lines up as a make-or-break season for him.

His competitive advantage to playing time is for what he can offer as a receiver, especially as a mismatch in certain packages. Even then, his season-high in receiving yards was 266 across five years at Washington. Already 26 years old, this offseason is his final shot to carve out a meaningful path, otherwise he will get left behind and be the odd man out.

Blocking Bruiser: Ko Kieft

If this column has driven any point home, it should be that the Bucs tight end room is a pick-your-flavor kind of room. That theme continues with Ko Kieft, who was selected in the same draft class as Cade Otton and retained in free agency through Jason Licht’s annual boat signing. Kieft has been a core special teamer and designated blocker throughout his time in Tampa Bay, with the organization valuing those traits enough to keep him around.

Last season did not go how he wanted after suffering a broken leg in Week 3 that kept him out for the remainder of the year. While counted out in the past to make the 53-man roster, he has found a way to keep his name in the mix because of his superb play on special teams. Each offseason seems to bring predictions that Kieft’s roster spot is in jeopardy (including by yours truly), yet coaches continue finding value in a player willing to do the dirty work.

Kieft is one-dimensional, largely used as a fullback on running downs. He is the best blocker of the bunch, and his impact was missed the rest of the way in the team’s futile attempts to establish the ground game. As long as special teams coordinator Danny Smith approves of him, he will continue doing what he has in the league – going full speed head-on into opponents to bring them down to the ground.

Wildcard Weapon: Bauer Sharp

Bauer Sharp is the more unknown commodity of the bunch. He was not really on anyone’s radar when the Bucs selected him in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. After trading up to do so, it is evident how highly they believe in Sharp’s potential. A former quarterback, he converted to tight end and is the developmental piece in the room. Given his blend of size and athleticism, he is an intriguing dart throw who has the ability to make an impact as soon as this season.

Sharp bounced around a bit in the collegiate ranks trying to find his fit, finishing his time at LSU. He is a versatile piece, especially given that he has lined up in various tight end alignments and as an H-back. That gives him a chance to beat out Ko Kieft and/or Devin Culp for a roster spot, especially as he is the newest draft pick and youngest player in the room.

Being a Day 3 draft pick, there are kinks to work out in his game, but it is nothing that is unfixable with coaching. Sharp is the most intriguing player for what he can become. It is likely he makes the team, and how he continues to grow over the summer will determine whether he has a redshirt rookie year or sees the field.

Closing Slant

The Bucs tight end room has underwhelmed in recent years, finishing 32nd in receptions (61) and in receiving yards (589) while being tied for 31st in touchdowns (2) in 2025. It lacks star power, relying more on the do-it-all skillset of Cade Otton. Last season saw the offense lean more into the position for its blocking, with injuries to the offensive line necessitating such a philosophical shift. Zac Robinson’s playbook is more open with possibilities, but the group remains led by Otton.

Payne Durham, Devin Culp, Ko Kieft, and Bauer Sharp will all get chances to prove worthy of roster spots over the summer, but some paring down of the position is required. The Bucs know who their TE1 is. For a position group that finished at or near the bottom of the league in production, the biggest development will not be Otton’s consistency – it will be whether someone behind him forces a larger role.