TE Prospects On Bucs’ Radar Dream Of Coming To Tampa

The Bucs are heavily targeting tight ends at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. That might be surprising considering that Tampa Bay drafted two tight ends last year with Cade Otton and Ko Kieft, but the team is pursuing it so much that the seven formal interviews that the Bucs have conducted with tight ends are the most among any other position at the Combine.

Those formal interviews took place with Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer, South Dakota State’s Tucker Kraft, Iowa’s Sam LaPorta, Utah’s Dalton Kincaid, Oregon State’s Luke Musgrave, Purdue’s Payne Durham and Cincinnati’s Josh Whyle.

Since Otton and Kieft are the only tight ends on the roster with Tampa Bay’s decision to let go of veteran Cam Brate, looking for another tight end is more reasonable. Every prospect is going to be willing to play anywhere, but the situation and destination of playing for the Bucs is more appealing to this year’s class. What exactly the tight ends are looking for is what varies from prospect to prospect.

Michael Mayer Wants To Find The Right Culture

Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer has a good chance of being the first tight end off the board. As the most well-rounded player at his position he’d fit in well with the Bucs as they look to improve their running game this season while adding another pass catching option. Mayer will have many suitors, and the biggest condition he was trying to find out in his meeting with the Bucs is if his personality meshes with the ideologies of the organization.

“Great coaching staff, there’s no doubt about that,” Mayer said of meeting with Jason Licht and Todd Bowles. “I think it goes back to my point, just try to show what type of person I am. Does it fit their culture? Does it fit their people? Does it fit with the standard of what they’re trying to do there with their program.”

Dalton Kincaid, Luke Musgrave Have Admiration, Familiarity With Cade Otton

The other potential first round pick and first off the board is Dalton Kincaid out of Utah. After beginning his college career at San Diego, Kincaid transferred to Utah and had 16 touchdowns over the last two seasons. While those were the years that set him up to make it in the NFL, the 2020 season introduced to fellow Pac-12 member turned Bucs player Cade Otton, who had an upstart first season in Tampa.