Positions Thought I’d Never Do Proper: Tight End

Alex Smith: There has been talk about the Bucs wanting to trade Smith and upgrade the position in free agency, but I don't believe it. Smith has had some bad games (San Francisco last year comes to mind) but has for the most part been a good receiver and has shown that he wants to improve. He's not a complete tight end and not the best blocker, but I think he is being underutilized with his ability to stretch the field. Smith stays and probably remains the starting tight end.

Anthony Becht: Becht has made it pretty clear that he wants to catch the ball more and wants to test free agency. Becht is smart and an excellent blocking tight end and it would be a shame to lose him. The good news for the Bucs is that Becht's free agency value will be diminished by a lot of tight ends hitting free agency and a relatively deep draft at that position. I don't know if he'll catch many more balls if he stays, though. There are others that are just better at running routes than he is. If Bruce Allen offers him a fair deal, I think he takes it and stays. I hope so.

Jerramy Stevens: No one ask Stevens how his offseason is going. After that article last month, he's hopefully found a comfortable rock to sleep under for a while. Stevens will hit free agency, but I don't see any other team taking a chance on him after that article and his past. He did, though, live up to his promise of not getting into any further trouble since he has been a Buccaneer, so the Bucs are pretty much the only team he has a shot at signing with. Stevens came through in a couple clutch situations and will certainly come cheap. I don't mind having him on the team if he can keep out of trouble.

Keith Heinrich: Saw a couple games on the active roster but ended the season on the practice squad. The Bucs like him as a #4, but he won't move up the ladder of Becht or Stevens doesn't return. If the team loses both of them, he might have a shot, but I'd say even then they give preference to guys they sign in free agency or draft.

Daniel Fells: He was signed in January to a future contract. He spent time with the Falcons and the Raiders and is said to enjoy cheesecake. I have absolutely no football knowledge to impart about Fells.

Last year I was wrong about Doug Jolley staying with the team. He was essentially replaced by Stevens. Everyone else I was pretty close on.

Unlike the receiver position, the Bucs are pretty solid at tight end. Too bad a couple of them are due to hit free agency. As I said above, the free agent market should be booming with good tight ends this season. A good one was taken off the market when the Eagles tagged L.J. Smith, but there are still plenty of others. Dallas Clark, Eric Johnson, Kris Wilson and Ben Troupe are the marquee names. With a bunch of cap room, I expect the Bucs to let Becht and Stevens both test free agency while they try to bring one of these guys on board. I think Indianapolis will tag Clark and take him out of the mix, so my next choice would be Troupe.

They'll probably also pick a tight end in the draft somewhere kind of late, maybe between the fifth and seventh rounds. I expect Brad Cottam (Tennessee) to be available late despite some of the hype he's getting. He missed most of his senior season with an injury but had an outstanding Senior Bowl and has huge upside. He's 6-8 with a big frame , runs 4.75 and is very intelligent. Based on need and assuming they land a free agent tight end, I don't see the Bucs drafting at this position any higher than that.