The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have remained adamant about not trading O.J. Howard but they may have changed their mind. Just a day before the NFL trade deadline, Tampa Bay is now open to dealing Howard for a ‘substantial offer'.
The Buccaneers fell to 2-5 on the season in Week 8 with a narrow loss to the Tennessee Titans. With their season falling to the wayside, they may be looking towards what is best for the team in the future.
Howard missed Sunday's game with a hamstring injury that caused him to miss practice throughout the week. The timing of the injury was coincidental with rumors surrounding the young tight end beginning to ramp up.
Tampa Bay selected Howard with the 19th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Alabama. Upon his selection, he instantly became a source of offense for the Buccaneers.
Over his first two seasons in the NFL, Howard caught 60 passes for 997 yards and 11 touchdowns. Then, ever since Bruce Arians was hired, his role in the offense has drastically changed.
In the six games that he's been active in this season, Howard has totaled only 13 receptions, 176 yards, and zero touchdowns. Arians has rarely utilized the tight end in his offenses but most believed he would incorporate Howard into the passing attack still.
Instead, the team's former first-round pick has essentially become nonexistent in Tampa Bay. With Cameron Brate as his backup, the Buccaneers would be best moving the talented tight end.
But they won't be doing that unless they get an offer that blows them away.
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