5 NFL players who will probably still be traded this offseason
3. Cameron Brate, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
O.J. Howard has been rumored to be on the trade block, and the Buccaneers’ acquisition of Rob Gronkowski only took that up a notch. But general manager Jason Licht quickly dismissed the idea of moving Howard, and they would be a dangerous tight end duo in a Tom Brady-led offense.
Tampa used 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) a lot last year (28 percent of the time; sixth-highest rate in the league). So there won’t be a great departure in formula this year.
Unless someone blows them away on a deal for OJ Howard in these next two days, the Bucs are happy to have him line up with Gronk two TE formations. https://t.co/0PFBt7zgKQ
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) April 22, 2020
On the idea of having three capable tight ends, as Gronkowski is likely eased in action, Brate could have value in Tampa Bay. But he already restructured his contract to remain on the team this offseason, and despite playing all 16 games last year he played just 38 percent of the Buccaneers’ offensive snaps. Howard missed two games, and still played 69 percent of the total snaps.
Gronkowski will eat into someone’s playing time, and Brate snaps are pretty clearly in peril more than Howard’s. With a reasonable $4.25 million cap hit this year, teams that needs a tight end who has proven pretty capable should be calling about Brate just as much as they might be on Howard.