After Mike Evans’ shocking departure in free agency, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a sudden need for a downfield threat at wide receiver.
Jason Licht wasted no time addressing that weakness, using his third-round draft pick on a big-time playmaker in Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst.
Buccaneers draft Ted Hurst with No. 84 overall pick in 2026 NFL Draft
After transferring from DII college football, Hurst spent two seasons in the FBS playing for Georgia State.
He measures in at a massive 6-foot-4, 206 pounds, providing the Buccaneers with the size the receiver room was lacking after losing Mike Evans. He runs a blazing 4.42 40-yard dash.
“If you can overlook the level of competition, Hurst has all of the talent to be a steal in the NFL Draft. He's got elite size and speed, but his best trait is his overall explosiveness,” wrote NFL Draft expert Marcus Mosher.
In his two seasons at Georgia State, Hurst caught 127 passes for 1,965 yards and 15 touchdowns.
He’s a highly-productive receiver, with over 70% of his catches resulting in either a first down or touchdown. His 34 catches of 20-plus yards ranked first in the FBS, per NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler.
Hurst feels like yet another home run pick in this draft for Jason Licht, infusing the wide receiver room with much-needed size and speed at the same time.
The Buccaneers offense just got a lot more explosive, and if Hurst can carve out a role in a crowded wide receiver room, he could become a favorite target for quarterback Baker Mayfield.
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