​The Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren’t likely to be pursuing a tight end overhaul anytime soon, but if Arizona Cardinals star Trey McBride ever hits the trade block, they should at least consider calling. CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell recently examined whether some of the NFL’s biggest names might seek a change of scenery, and McBride landed on the list. Podell, however, expects the All-Pro tight end to stay in Arizona as long as the Cardinals can address their quarterback situation before his current deal runs out.
That doesn’t mean the idea isn’t worth a conversation from Tampa Bay’s standpoint. McBride just wrapped one of the most impressive seasons for a tight end in football. He finished 2025 with 126 receptions, the second-most in the NFL, along with 1,239 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Those numbers earned him first-team All-Pro honors and solidified him as one of the league’s premier offensive weapons.
The Buccaneers already enjoy stability at the position after re-signing Cade Otton, but McBride would bring a different level of receiving threat. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson has shown a readiness to feature multiple tight ends, and pairing McBride with Otton could create matchup issues for defenses while giving Baker Mayfield another reliable target over the middle.
The main hurdle, naturally, is availability. Podell believes the Cardinals still have two seasons to convince McBride that the franchise is headed in the right direction. With the tight end under contract through 2027, Arizona has little motivation to entertain trade offers unless their rebuilding efforts stall entirely.
That makes this more of a long-term scenario than a realistic short-term target. Still, teams with championship aspirations rarely pass up elite talent when it unexpectedly becomes available. If the Cardinals’ plans falter and McBride eventually hits the trade market, the Buccaneers should be among the teams evaluating what it would take to bring one of the NFL’s best tight ends to Tampa Bay.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Should the Bucs get aggressive and trade for a star tight end?