Fansided
Fansided

NFL Pro Bowl: First-Timer Projections For All 32 Teams

By Erik Lambert

ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 22: O.J. Howard #80 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills on October 22, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 22: O.J. Howard #80 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills on October 22, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
30 of 32
Next
ORCHARD PARK, NY – OCTOBER 22: O.J. Howard #80 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills on October 22, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY – OCTOBER 22: O.J. Howard #80 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills on October 22, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers. O.J. Howard . 30. player. 48. . TE

Care to have an understanding of how ridiculously good O.J. Howard is and can be? The young tight end was targeted in the passing game just 39 times in 2017. Despite that he had 26 catches for 432 yards and six touchdowns. So try to imagine if the Buccaneers actually made an effort to feature him in the offense like a Rob Gronkowski or Travis Kelce. Men who saw over 100 targets each last season alone. His potential production could be staggering.

One would think Dirk Koetter understands the potential here. He had Tony Gonzalez during the end of his Hall of Fame career in Atlanta when the Falcons went to an NFC championship. Howard has that same level of skill. It’s time they stopped trying to be cute by spreading the ball around and get it to their playmakers. Especially with Jameis Winston being out for almost the entire first month of the season. Ryan Fitzpatrick is smart. He knows where to go with the ball.

Home/Power Rankings