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While Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate has never been a true fantasy football stud, he was once a great red zone option and DFS choice, so his offseason situation is worth monitoring.
The Buccaneers' roster will likely see an overhaul whether quarterback Tom Brady returns or not, so Brate's future with the team is uncertain. With the scarcity at tight end, even players like Brate who are just barely on the fantasy radar could emerge into real fantasy options with a change of scenery.
Will Brate be released by the Buccaneers? Let's dive in.
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Cameron Brate 2022 Season Review
In nine regular season games, Brate caught 20 of his 38 targets for 174 yards and zero touchdowns. Brate missed eight games with scary head and neck injuries and ultimately posted career lows since his rookie season in all categories. He did score a "garbage-time" touchdown in the NFC Wild Card loss to the Dallas Cowboys, but his season was disappointing, to say the least.
It's tough to criticize a player just because they missed games, but even when he was active, rookie tight end Cade Otton outplayed him. The fourth-round pick totaled 42 receptions for 391 yards and two touchdowns. Since Otton is cheaper and was more productive this year, Brate's time with the team could be coming to an end.
Will Cameron Brate Be Released By The Buccaneers?
Tampa Bay could cut tight end Cameron Brate this offseason, as they are projected over the salary cap and will look to make cuts for cap purposes. By cutting Brate, the Bucs would save $2 million in cap space. While $2 million is far from a significant figure in this context, any amount will help give the team flexibility as the team potentially shifts towards a rebuild.
The Bucs must free up cap space to resign younger players and sign their 2023 rookie class, so the 31-year-old tight end being released makes plenty of sense after his worst season since 2014.
If Brate is released, it's worth monitoring where he could end up. Again, he's not a fantasy superstar, but he has caught at least four touchdowns in five of his nine NFL seasons and could at least be in play for DFS tournaments in 2023.
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