Mike Evans, the man synonymous with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' wide receiver core for the last decade, is gone. It's time for a new era of Bucs pass catchers, headlined by Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin.
But the 2025 season exposed just how thin Tampa Bay is at the position. Behind their stars, they have an alarming lack of depth. The issue will need to be addressed in some capacity in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Luckily, the 2026 class offers plenty of talented receivers to fix the Buccaneers' weakness. Georgia State's Ted Hurst might be the biggest steal of the bunch. He could solve Tampa Bay's receiver need without breaking the bank in the process.
Ted Hurst is Buccaneers' best draft answer to looming WR depth crisis
The Buccaneers didn't just lose a star player when Evans left for San Francisco. They lost a skill set that made their offense click. The veteran wideout's ability to threaten defenses vertically opened up opportunities for the team's other skill players. Without him, the Buccaneers run the risk of fielding a congested offense with little threat of explosive passes.
Hurst solves that issue. He's nowhere near the player Evans was coming out of college, but he can fit a similar archetype for the Buccaneers. At 6'4" and 206 pounds, he has the frame to hold up as an outside receiver in the NFL. He's dominant in contested catch situations, pulling down passes with ease. He even offers surprising athleticism, running a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The Georgia State prospect isn't a refined player, but he has the tools to develop into a starting-caliber wideout in the NFL. He could immediately step in as a key depth piece for Tampa Bay while growing into a bigger role.
He eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in 2025 and has totaled 15 touchdowns over the last two seasons at Georgia State.
Best of all, it wouldn't take an early pick to get him. Based on recent projections, Hurst will likely be available in the fourth round of the draft. That would allow the Buccaneers to address other needs like edge rusher and linebacker with their top picks before turning to the receiver room.
Hurst isn't a one-for-one replacement for Evans. Nobody is. But he could fill a similar role in the Buccaneers' offense without costing significant draft capital. If he's there for them on Day Three of the draft, they shouldn't think twice before making the pick.