2026 NFL Draft Grades: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Four streaks came to an end in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers did not win the NFC South for the first time since 2020, did not make the playoffs for the first time since 2019, do not have Mike Evans on the roster for the first time since 2013 and do not have Lavonte David on the roster for the first time since 2011.

It's a different era of Buccaneers football. The Bucs have drafted ahead at receiver, with Jalen McMillan in the third round two years ago and Emeka Egbuka in the first round last April. They are OK there even after Evans signed in San Francisco. Even so, Ted Hurst in the third round gives Baker Mayfield another target as a big 6-foot-4 end zone magnet (15 scores over the past two years). The Bucs needed a solve at linebacker with David retiring, and signed Alex Anzalone as part of the answer. Josiah Trotter can be another part of the answer. He's a tackling machine, with 183 over the past two seasons.

The two picks that really stand out from this draft class, though, are two kids from across the state at Miami. Reuben Bain Jr. mixes power, bend, good angles and burst to be a real pass-rushing problem for opponents. Offensive coordinators have to account for him. He had 9.5 sacks and 71 pressures last season, and he pitched in against the run, too. A lot has been made about his short 30⅞-inch arms. But there's no denying his consistent ability to get home with all of his other traits. With Al-Quadin Muhammad (11 sacks last season) also coming in, the Bucs' pass rush could be really good in 2026.

I also liked the Keionte Scott pick a lot. He's all over the Miami tape, disrupting opposing offenses as a blitzer, chasing down running backs and making plays on the ball in coverage. Scott could factor in as a slot corner or safety. Tampa Bay got him at good value, too -- he was No. 80 on my board, so I wasn't expecting to see him still out there at the 116th pick.

The tight end position wasn't addressed until the sixth round. I had it as the top roster need, and Kenyon Sadiq was often matched with the Bucs at the 15th pick. I have no issue with the Bucs taking Bain there (Sadiq and Bain were back to back on my board), but they needed to do something at the position before taking Bauer Sharp in the late rounds. Tampa Bay re-signed Cade Otton, but the Bucs could go with a lot of two-tight end sets this season in Zac Robinson's offense, and it was a missed opportunity to not get a higher-rated prospect.

First-rounder Bain, short arms and all, second-round LB Josiah Trotter and fourth-round CB Keionte Scott could all be Week 1 starters for a club in an atypical state of transition. But don't be surprised if explosive third-round WR Ted Hurst turns out to be the best of the bunch in the Bucs' post-Evans world.

Best Pick: It was their first one, EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. He slipped to them at No. 15, and they quickly swooped him up. He helps fill a need, and his power will be a big addition to their defense.

Worst Pick: It's not really a player, but rather a strategy. Why not keep going defense rather than taking receiver Ted Hurst in the third, since you have so many receivers? A Mike Evans replacement, maybe?

The Skinny: Both Bain and second-round linebacker Josiah Trotter will be contributors right away. That's a good return. Corner Keionte Scott has talent, so taking him in the fourth works. Sixth-round tight end Bauer Sharp is a late-round guy to watch.

Speaking of help on defense, the Bucs added three alphas in edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., linebacker Josiah Trotter and defensive back Keionte Scott with three of their first four picks.

In between, the Bucs nabbed one of the most exciting receiver prospects of this class in Ted Hurst, who might have been a first-round prospect had he starred at Georgia rather than Georgia State in college. Hurst has a long ways to go before being considered any kind of replacement for free-agent departure Mike Evans, but like the longtime Bucs star, he offers a unique combination of size and speed.

Given all the big names selected before them, fifth-rounders Demonte Capehart and Billy Schrauth will be overlooked by many, but I see both as early contributors. This is another quality class from Jason Licht and one that was needed, given all the turnover on the roster this offseason.

If there's anything you can count on with Jason Licht, he is going to take the best talent that falls to him.

Fortunately, that also aligned with their needs in this draft. Getting Reuben Bain Jr. is exactly what their defensive line needed. Trotter is a smashmouth linebacker who still needs to evolve playing in space, but he blows up blockers.

I loved their day three value. Keionte Scott is a physical nickel defender who shows off excellent click and close from zone coverage. DeMonte Capehart logs limited snaps, but he's very powerful as a rotational nose tackle against the run.

If not for injury, Billy Schrauth was a no-brainer top 100 pick. I think he's a future starter at guard. This was one of my favorite draft classes.

Here's why: Teams might have had questions about Rueben Bain Jr.'s arm length that made him drop out of the top 10, but that red flag isn't as red when taking him at No. 15 like the Bucs did. Bain, whose build and game have reminded me of Brandon Graham throughout this process, will be a weapon as the tip of the spear in Todd Bowles' defense that is constantly blitzing and twisting its defensive linemen. I'm so interested in seeing how Bain and the rest of what I'll call "uniquely built" Bucs front seven are deployed this year, it could be wildly entertaining. Jason Licht is comfortable taking the best player available, even if it's not a dire need. Bain was the great pick that fulfills both.

Josiah Trotter is a hammerhead that gives the Bucs their potential Lavonte David replacement. Trotter is best going forward against the run and as a blitzer, and Bowles' defense should use him ideally. Ted Hurst is a toolsy wide receiver with size and speed, but still refining his route running and consistency. He has upside and gets dropped into an ideal situation where he doesn't have to be a main character of the offense early. I liked the Billy Schrauth pick as depth to help the Bucs insulate themselves from a season from hell like they had last year with offensive line injuries.

Most interesting pick: Keionte Scott, CB, Miami

Scott is an older prospect but a slot dynamo. He is aggressive and his game really shines as a blitzer or when playing the run. He also has a real knack for blowing up screens and bubbles. I don't think he has much outside versatility, which makes me interested in seeing how Bowles will deploy Scott and Jacob Parrish, another slot-based player who struggled at times last season when he had to play on the outside but had great stretches when working from the slot. Either way, Scott is a great fit for this defense, and I'm sure Bowles will find a way to get him and Parrish on the field at the same time if needed.

The Buccaneers stuck to a theme of big, strong, fast, and physical in this draft, and it started out with their first-round pick of Rueben Bain. The former Hurricanes star should be an early impact playmaker on the Tampa Bay defensive line and bring the non-stop motor, infectious tenacity, and skill set to play on all three downs. The team's second-rounder, Josiah Trotter, is more of a run-stuffer than coverage whiz, but he's another guy who plays with an edge, showing instincts to sift through the trash and find the runner in the backfield. Third-round receiver Ted Hurst profiles as a potential (poor man's) Mike Evans replacement on the outside, boasting top-field speed and length to snare off-target throws. And I really like the way that fourth-round safety Keionte Scott plays as well: He's aggressive in coverage, explosive on the blitz, and a dynamo against the run. Overall, the Buccaneers are a tougher, more rugged team than they were a few days ago.

Analysis: Bain's draft slide, which was partly due to his 30 7/8-inch arms, turned out to be a benefit for the Buccaneers, whose biggest roster need was at edge rusher. Bain doesn't have special athleticism to make up for his lack of arm length, but coach Todd Bowles is going to love his relentless demeanor on the field. Trotter—whose father, Jeremiah, was an All-Pro linebacker with the Eagles—needs to improve in coverage, but he has great instincts and may be an option to replace the recently retired Lavonte David. After addressing the needs up-front, Tampa Bay added more numbers in the secondary with Scott, who has inside-outside flexibility.