/>Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesBucs Nation homepageHorizontal - WhiteBucs Nationa Tampa Bay Buccaneers communityFollow Bucs Nation online:Follow Bucs Nation on TwitterFollow Bucs Nation on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchBucs Nation main menuFanpostsFanshotsSectionsBuccaneersOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections 2016 NFL DraftInjuriesFree AgencyGame FilmBuccaneers have a Top-5 tight end groupNew Shaquil Barrett Jersey White ,3commentsAccording to rankings of all 32 NFL groupingsEDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:Buccaneers have a Top-5 tight end groupTwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailPhoto by Grant Halverson/Getty ImagesThere have been questions and even concerns over the future of tight ends O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate following the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ hiring of Bruce Arians and his staff. Noting the lack of prolific tight end performances in Arians’ history, some are worried the franchise may squander the ceiling and talent of two well-abled players.But just how talented are they? According to recent SB Nation rankings, they’re Top-5 in the entire league. According to Christian D’Andrea,I think Chris Godwin might have something to say about the “little else” portion of that analysis, but nonetheless, what D’Andrea writes rings true.Howard is a superstar in the making if he can find a way to stay healthy. The former Alabama star has played in 24 of a possible 32 games in his two-year career, and despite appearing in four fewer games in 2018 than he did in 2017 he eclipsed his previous reception and yard totals and came just one touchdown away from tying his rookie mark of six scoring plays.The pace Howard was on prior to his season-ending injury in 2018 would have likely placed him near or in the Top-10 of NFL tight ends statistically.Cameron Brate, on the other hand Womens Brent Grimes Jersey , has appeared in at least fourteen games every year since 2015 and has only missed one game in the last three seasons.The 2016 performance referenced in the quote saw Bratre bring in 57-catches and 660-yards while scoring eight touchdowns. All career highs to this day.Without a doubt, the tight end position has been one of focus in the Bucs offense in recent years. Just as it has been or has become with the four teams ranked ahead of them (Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs).Given Arians’ comments about his coaches scheming to roster strengths, there should be no reason Howard and Brate don’t continue to provide the Tampa Buccaneers with a tactical advantage as defenses are forced to truly cover sideline to sideline when facing this group. The axe fell on Adam Gase in Miami and Dirk Koetter in Tampa over the last couple of days and they have plenty of company in the Class of 2016 head coaching hires.There were seven coaches hired in that cycle and six of them have now lost their jobs. Mike Mularkey, Chip Kelly, Hue Jackson and Ben McAdoo lost their jobs before Gase and Koetter Bryan Anger Jersey , which leaves Eagles coach Doug Pederson as the only member of that group still in the same position.Pederson’s hire wasn’t met with tremendous acclaim at the time and former NFL exec Mike Lombardi called him less qualified to coach a team than anyone else he’d ever seen. Pederson’s Super Bowl ring forced Lombardi to eat crow and the coach reflected on being the last man standing at his Monday press conference.“All I can remember is I think I was seventh of seven that year,” Pederson said. “That’s all I remember. No. Listen, you have to have confidence in your ability, and obviously I’m not going to speak for the other guys, but I had a lot of confidence in myself. I feel like you have to surround yourself with really, really good assistant coaches, good coordinators, and guys that love ball and love to teach. That’s obviously something I learned from [former NFL head coach and executive] Mike Holmgren and Andy [Reid]. Again Womens Shaquil Barrett Jersey , I can’t speak for the others, but that’s just what I know. Then having the ability and confidence in myself to lead and teach and get guys to play. I feel like if that’s good enough, it’s good enough.”Pederson has the Eagles back in the playoffs after it looked like the season might go up in smoke, which is further sign that it might be a while before the Class of 2016 is totally wiped off the board.