loading...
League Logo
NFL
League Logo
NBA
League Logo
MLB
League Logo
NHL
League Logo
NFL
All
    loading...

    Oddsmakers reveal O.J. Howard trade odds

    SportsLine oddsmakers reveal odds for where O.J. Howard lands.
    Hero Image

    With 94 catches for 1,456 yards and 12 touchdowns over the last three years, Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard has been a solidly productive NFL tight end. However, after being drafted 19th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, he hasn't exactly lived up to expectations coming out of the University of Alabama.

    Howard was a Mackey finalist in his senior season with the Crimson Tide and earned National Championship Game Offensive MVP honors after five catches for 208 yards and two touchdowns in Alabama's title win over Clemson in 2016. After running a 4.51-second 40-yard-dash at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine, the expectation was that Howard would quickly become an upper-echelon tight end.

    Join SportsLine now to get picks and projections from proven Vegas insiders and computer models, as well as daily and season-long Fantasy help. Use promo code UNDER to get 25% off your first quarterly subscription.

    But while Howard has shown flashes, catching six passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns in just his sixth game as a rookie and putting together six other games with at least 50 yards and a touchdown since, Howard hasn't been able to put it together consistently. Now, it's rumored that he's been put on the trading block by the Buccaneers ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft next week.

    But what will Howard's market look like after three somewhat underwhelming seasons? SportsLine oddsmakers have looked at teams with a need at tight end that might be willing to take a chance and released odds on which team Howard will land on if traded. These odds are for informational purposes only.

    If the Bucs trade tight end O.J. Howard, on which team will he land?

    Patriots +250

    Redskins +300

    Packers +500

    Cowboys +600

    Dolphins +700

    Colts +800

    Cardinals +1000

    Panthers +1200

    Despite the fact that he hasn't risen to the level of Pro Bowl tight end as hoped when drafted, Howard is still only 25 years old, he's still a solid athlete capable of stretching the seam and he's capable of making an impact as a receiver in this league. That means there still should be a market for his services provided that the Buccaneers are asking a reasonable price in return.

    Obviously, they're not going to recoup their initial investment in Howard. But if they're willing to take a mid-to-late round pick for him, there should be a number of teams interested. The Patriots have a long history of taking on reclamation projects like Howard and they have a need for playmakers to surround Jarrett Stidham with given that Matt LaCosse is currently the No. 1 tight end.

    The Redskins, Packers and Cowboys all have clear tight end needs after allowing Jordan Reed, Jimmy Graham and Jason Witten to walk in free agency whereas the Dolphins already have a talented young tight end on the roster in Mike Gesicki. However, with Miami likely to draft a quarterback early in the 2020 NFL Draft, adding more athleticism and speed in the passing game wouldn't be out of the question.

    Looking at the long shots, the Colts already have a Pro Bowl tight end in Jack Doyle and the Panthers were confident enough in Ian Thomas to let Greg Olsen walk this offseason. However, the Cardinals look like a particularly intriguing option after already trading for DeAndre Hopkins earlier in the offseason. Adding Howard would give Kyler Murray a starting lineup of Hopkins, Christian Kirk, Larry Fitzgerald, Kenyan Drake and Howard at the skill positions, which could make them one of the most potent offenses in the NFL.

    Ryan Wooden

    Share This Story