Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft Grades: Rating every pick in the 2026 NFL Draft

The 2026 NFL Draft has come to a close, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are leaving Pittsburgh with a haul of talented young players. 

The Buccaneers went into the draft with the primary intention of overhauling the defensive unit, not only in on-field production but also in demeanor and attitude. They accomplished that – getting bigger, faster, and stronger on defense, and still managed to land some key pieces for the offense as well. 

Jason Licht and Todd Bowles were able to address the roster’s most pressing needs, and Tampa Bay’s roster suddenly looks far more promising than it did just a few days ago.

Grading all 7 picks Buccaneers made in 2026 NFL Draft

Round 1, Pick 15: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami

How did Rueben Bain fall to the Buccaneers at No. 15? The front office was just as surprised as the fans, as they weren’t able to hide their absolute glee in the war room. 

Bain represents everything the Bucs were hoping to add to their roster this offseason. He is a dominant pass rusher that brings the exact nasty streak the Bucs feel they’ve been lacking. 

He totaled 20.5 sacks and 33.5 tackles for loss during his college career. In 2025, he totaled 9.5 sacks, and his 67 pressures were second-most in the nation. The Buccaneers landed the biggest steal of the first round, and this could be the move that finally solves the team’s pass rush woes.

Grade: A+

Round 2, Pick 46: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri

This pick is bittersweet. On one hand, Trotter continues the trend of adding violence and physicality to the defense. 

On the other hand, it’s still heartbreaking that Jacob Rodriguez came oh so close to the Buccaneers until the Dolphins snatched him up just three picks ahead of Tampa Bay. But it would be unfair to knock Trotter’s grade simply because he’s not Rodriguez. 

Trotter shines in run defense and as a blitzer, and he’ll be a perfect fit for Todd Bowles’ scheme. He plays fast and strong, and will be a nuisance for opposing offenses to deal with. The biggest gripe about the pick is that Tampa Bay has gotten such poor coverage from the linebacker spot, and Trotter is another linebacker who struggles in coverage. 

That skill can be developed, but this pick didn’t necessarily solve that weakness immediately. It’s a good pick, but not quite a slam-dunk like some of the other picks Tampa Bay made. 

Grade: B+

Round 3, Pick 84 Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State

This was a masterful pick by the front office. Not only did they trade down and acquire an extra fifth-round pick, they added a dynamic playmaker for Baker Mayfield in the process.

Though the wide receiver room is talented, it lacks size and speed. The departure of Mike Evans left the roster without a true perimeter threat, but Hurst solves that problem. 

At 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, he runs a blazing 4.42 40-yard dash. He led the FBS with 34 receptions of 20-plus yards over the last two seasons, and over 70% of his catches went for either first downs or touchdowns. 

He’s a big play waiting to happen, and adding such an explosive receiver late in the third round was another steal by Jason Licht. 

Grade: A

Round 4, Pick 116: Keionte Scott, CB, Miami

Jason Licht apparently earned the favor of football gods, as he landed yet another steal in the fourth round. 

Scott was widely projected as a second or third-round pick, and was ranked in the top-60 prospects on most consensus big boards. Tampa Bay got him at 116. The best part of all -- they reunited him with Bain, who was his college teammate at Miami.

Not only did they get a good cornerback — they got a player that was made in a lab to play in Todd Bowles’ defensive scheme. Scott was arguably the best blitzer and run defender from the cornerback spot in college football. He led all cornerbacks in both sacks (5) and pressures (17). 

His 91.4 run defense grade ranked second in the nation at his position. Bowles knows exactly how to utilize a player like this, and he’ll be a key chess piece from day one. 

Grade: A

Round 5, Pick 155: DeMonte Capehart, DT, Clemson

At 6-foot-5, 313 pounds, DeMonte Capehart has the size the Bucs wanted to add to their defensive front. He’s an athletic anomaly, ranking as a 99th-percentile athlete. 

He’s strong and violent, and has all of the physical and athletic gifts needed to eventually develop into a quality NFL player.

Capehart only started 12 games in college despite being a sixth-year senior. He finished his career with 72 total tackles including 13 for loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble. 

He’ll turn 24 years old before training camp, and will have a long road ahead in his development after playing such a limited role at the college level. Luckily, he’s in a good spot with a Tampa Bay team that has their starters locked in for next season, allowing him to learn from savvy veterans like Vita Vea and A’Shawn Robinson. 

Grade: B

Round 5, Pick 160: Billy Schrauth, OL, Notre Dame

Adding interior offensive line depth was a major necessity after injuries and poor depth derailed the offense last season. 

Schrauth was a three-year starter with experience at both right guard and left guard, serving as a team captain at Notre Dame.

He’s a steady, reliable player with proven leadership ability. Schrauth helps bolster the depth at guard and can be counted on to protect Baker Mayfield.

Grade: A-

Round 6, Pick 185: Bauer Sharp, TE, LSU

The Buccaneers closed out their draft class by trading up in the sixth round for LSU tight end Bauer Sharp.

He’s a recent convert to tight end from quarterback, and has a lot of growth to do at the position. Sharp did lead Oklahoma in receptions in 2024 before transferring to LSU and having a quieter 2025 season. 

It’s no fault of Sharp’s, but the Bucs needed to land a more immediate-impact tight end rather than a developmental one. If the team plans to implement Zac Robinson’s system that utilizes 2 tight end sets at one of the highest rates in the NFL, they needed a receiving tight end that could complement Cade Otton and line up on day one, as Payne Durham and Devin Culp won’t cut it. 

Sharp seems poised to battle with the two aforementioned tight ends for a spot at the bottom of the depth chart or practice squad, and while he can certainly develop into an effective player down the line, that won’t help the Bucs much in 2026. 

Grade: C+

Buccaneers 2026 NFL Draft Grade: A

Jason Licht and his staff earned an “A”, passing the test of the NFL Draft with flying colors. 

They addressed all of their major needs, and completely revamped the defense. They had one of the best drafts of any team from a pure value perspective, landing steals with just about every pick. 

The failure to add a proven dynamic receiving threat is the only thing that held this draft back from a perfect A+ grade, but beggars can’t be choosers. The roster improved by leaps and bounds, and on paper, the Buccaneers look ready to return to playoff contention after a down year in 2025.

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