Veteran Free Agent Options For Bucs At Tight End

The Bucs had hoped that tight end Rob Gronkowski would return to play one more season with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay in 2022. But on Tuesday, Gronkowski announced his retirement from football at age 33.

Gronkowski retired after the 2019 season, but returned in 2020 to reunite with Brady after he signed with the Bucs. Tampa Bay won Super Bowl LV that season due largely in part to Gronkowski’s two touchdowns, which helped the Bucs build an early 14-0 lead over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Anticipating Gronkowski’s return, the Bucs didn’t sign any veteran free agent tight ends this offseason. Instead, the Bucs selected Cade Otton in the fourth round and Ko Kieft in the sixth round of this year’s draft. Tampa Bay is very thin on experience at the position with just Cameron Brate, who turns 31 in July, as the only veteran on the team. Long-time practice squader Codey McElroy, 29, and a pair of undrafted free agents in J.J. Howland and Ben Beise round out the position.

The Bucs reworked Brady’s contract a few months ago to clear up some salary cap room, presumably to re-sign Gronkowski. But now that money could be used to sign another veteran if the team wants to add one.

Available Free Agent Tight Ends

Let’s take a look at the leftover veteran tight ends that remained unsigned as of June 21.

Jimmy Graham

Bucs CB Jamel Dean and Bears TE Jimmy Graham – Photo by: USA Today

Graham, 35, last played for Chicago in 2021, where he made over $11 million combined over the past two seasons. A 12-year veteran, the 6-foot-6, 259-pound Graham has been a solid receiver over his career with six years in New Orleans, three years in Seattle and two years in Green Bay. Graham’s production has waned, as he hasn’t produced over 500 yards receiving since the 2018 season with the Packers. Last year with the Bears, Graham posted a career-low 14 catches for 167 yards (11.9 avg.) and three touchdowns. The five-time Pro Bowler last made the Pro Bowl during the 2017 season.

Kyle Rudolph

Rudolph, 32, spent his first 10 years in Minnesota before joining the New York Giants in 2021. He signed a one-year deal worth just over $4.5 million. The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Rudolph has been a very good blocker and a consistent receiver. Last year with the Giants, he caught 26 passes for 257 yards (9.9 avg.) and one touchdown. Rudolph hasn’t had a season with 400 or more receiving yards since 2018 in Minnesota. He had two Pro Bowl seasons, with one in 2012 and another in 2017.

Jared Cook

Cook, 35, is the most experienced of the remaining free agent tight ends. He spent 13 seasons in the NFL with six different franchises. After four years in Tennessee, three seasons in St. Louis and one year in Green Bay, Cook played two seasons in Oakland. During the 2018 season, he made the Pro Bowl, catching 68 passes for 896 yards (13.2 avg.) and six touchdowns for the Raiders. The 6-foot-5, 246-pounder then moved on to New Orleans, where he had another Pro Bowl season in 2019. Cook caught 43 passes for 705 yards (16.4 avg.) and nine touchdowns. Last year, he signed a one-year deal worth $5.5 million to play for the Chargers. He caught 48 passes for 564 yards (11.8 avg.) and four TDs.

Eric Ebron

Ebron, 29, is one of the younger available tight ends. After being drafted by Detroit in the first round in 2014, he spent four years with the Lions before moving on to the Colts in 2018. After two seasons in Indianapolis, Ebron spent the last two years in Pittsburgh. The 6-foot-4, 253-pound Ebron has not lived up to his draft billing, but is talented enough to stay employed in the league. He signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Steelers. After catching 56 passes for 558 yards (10.0 avg.) and five touchdowns in 2020, Ebron only caught 12 passes for 84 yards (7.0 avg.) and one TD last year.

Blake Jarwin

Jarwin, 27, has only spent four seasons in Dallas and was not re-signed. Not only does Jarwin have the least amount of experience, he also has the least amount of production. Jarwin has just 70 receptions for 780 yards (11.1 avg.) and two touchdowns in his Cowboys career. He played in eight games last year and had 11 catches for 96 yards (8.7 avg.) and two TDs. Jarwin made over $10 million combined during his last two seasons.

The post Veteran Free Agent Options For Bucs At Tight End appeared first on Pewter Report.