Buccaneers rookie Ted Hurst is already getting Baker Mayfield excited

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted wide receiver Ted Hurst in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and the rookie has made quite the impression early in his pro career.

Hurst has put together a strong training camp, and his contested-catch ability and wide catch radius has been particularly impressive — earning him some lofty comparisons to legendary former Buccaneer Mike Evans. 

Hurst put together an incredible pair of joint practices against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and he caught the attention of quarterback Baker Mayfield in the process. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield praises Ted Hurst

Hurst was the lone bright spot during an otherwise disappointing practice session on Tuesday. Tampa Bay found the end zone just once throughout practice, and it happened to be a touchdown pass to Hurst. 

The rookie followed that up with another great day on Wednesday. Hurst got the better of Jaguars No. 1 cornerback Travis Hunter on multiple occasions and scored a touchdown for the second day in a row. 

Mayfield is pleased with how Hurst is coming along in his development leading into his first NFL season.

“You can see it clicking, just the motions and everything that we’re trying to get done. When he has a one on one matchup, he knows the ball is probably coming his way… He’s making a lot of plays,” Mayfield said. 

For a rookie trying to carve out a role early, it certainly helps to make such a strong impression on the starting quarterback. 

Hurst comes to Tampa Bay after separating himself as one of the most explosive wide receivers in college football. 

He led the FBS with 34 catches of 20-plus yards over his final two college seasons, and 71% of his receptions went for either first downs or touchdowns.

The Buccaneers are excited about bringing that big-play ability to their offense. Tampa Bay already had a strong wide receiver room headlined by Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr. and Jalen McMillan, but none of them are as dangerous downfield or in the red zone as Hurst. 

He’ll step into the X receiver role, and try to help fill the void left behind by Mike Evans’ departure. There is only one Evans, but Hurst’s towering size at 6’4”, 205 pounds makes him the best-suited to take on that role.  

The Buccaneers are excited about what Hurst can develop into for their offense. It wouldn’t be surprising if in a few years, he’s the team’s WR1. 

Despite a crowded wide receiver room, Hurst is gearing up for a significant role in Tampa Bay’s offense throughout his rookie season as he continues to get comfortable in the system and build chemistry with Mayfield.

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