TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have picked up the fifth-year option on the contract tight end O.J. Howard signed as a rookie in 2017.
The move Wednesday came a week after the Bucs acquired four-time All-Pro Rob Gronkowski in a trade from New England, prompting speculation that Howard might be traded to make room for the former Patriots star.
Instead, coach Bruce Arians and general manager Jason Licht both said during last week's draft that they were excited about having three tight ends with the abilities of Gronkowski, Howard and Cameron Brate.