Tight End Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bears must address the tight end position, and in multiple ways. In all likelihood, Chicago will draft a tight at some point. But, signing one via free agency would help the cause greatly. As you might already know, last year, the Bears’ tight end group was arguably the worst in all of football.
Cameron Brate is just two years removed from signing a monstrous 6-year, $40 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, this position is an intriguing one for the Bucs. The extension for Brate was curious, at the time, because it came a year after the team drafted O.J. Howard.
This last year, some wondered whether the Bucs would trade Howard, but he ended up sticking around. Physically speaking, Howard is an athletic freak for a tight end. Figuring out a way to get him the football would be smart, if you are head coach Bruce Arians. But, no one really knows where they’re headed within this position group.
If the Bucs were to cut Brate, they save $6 million. Tampa Bay needs to add more on defense this offseason, and that cash could come in handy. Should Brate become a free agent, he is exactly what the Bears need at tight end. Over his last four seasons, Brate has caught a total of 24 touchdowns.