Tampa Bay Buccaneers GM Jason Licht: "We're excited about having OJ Howard play with Rob Gronkowski. Why wouldn't you want to have many weapons at that position? We have an excellent tight end group right now."
ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht has tamped down trade rumors concerning former first round pick OJ Howard, as Licht told the media amid the tight end's trade speculations that the team is ‘excited about having OJ Howard play with Rob Gronkowski.'
From the moment the Bucs made the shocking blockbuster trade to acquire future Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski, the future of the Howard seemed to be quite blurry.
Despite being the 19th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft as a National Championship hero at Alabama, Howard has totaled just 1,456 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in three seasons with the Bucs.
Howard was having a career season in 2018 before going on IR in Week 11 with a serious foot injury.
Even though former quarterback Jameis Winston led the league in passing yards last season, Howard accounted for only one touchdown, being the lesser prefered target to fellow Bucs tight end Cameron Brate.
Howard has one more year left on his rookie deal before the Buccaneers decide whether they want to use their first round option on him for a fifth season.