Balanced, all-round tight end that can stay on the field in any situation
Impressive quickness, showing a nice burst off the line and into his route
Sneakily good at garnering separation
Excellent hands, catching balls outside of his frame without losing momentum
Large wingspan and good use of body make him a handful in contested catches
Good understanding of zones and knows where to sit to give his QB an option
Versatile – can play inline, outside the numbers or even in the backfield as a h-back
Committed blocker
Con's:
Would like more play strength – willing blocker but distinct lack of anchor versus bigger opponents
Lean body that needs to add more muscle mass to its frame
Lack of nasty about him
Route running is effective, but will need to improve timing and cuts to separate at the next level
Can get knocked off his route across the middle
A little stiff hipped, with limited short-area agility
The Verdict:
“Cade Otton is the type of pass catcher that will come down with the football no matter where you throw it to him. Tall and athletic with insane arms and sure hands, Washington relied on him to always offer his QB an option and move the chains. Well coached with obvious football IQ, Otton was also a factor as a blocker and will bring the correct technique and application to the next level, even if his play strength might be a little lacking. This balanced game stands him out amongst the rest of the day two tight ends in this draft class, and whilst the ceiling might be a little lower than other prospects available his floor will be noticeably higher. If he can get stronger and more aggressive, he’ll be a valued three-down contributor for an NFL team.”
PREVIOUSLY THE FOUNDER OF NFL DRAFT UK, SIMON HAS BEEN COVERING COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND THE NFL DRAFT SINCE 2009. BASED IN MANCHESTER, SIMON IS ALSO CO-CREATOR & WEEKLY GUEST OF THE COLLAPSING POCKET PODCAST.