The Tampa Bay Buccaneers once again made headlines on Day 3 of the 2026 Draft with an unexpected move. The franchise decided to trade up in the sixth round to select LSU tight end Bauer Sharp with the 185th pick.
The move came after a call from general manager Jason Licht to his counterpart in Las Vegas. Tampa Bay traded their 195th and 229th overall picks to the Las Vegas Raiders to move up 10 spots and secure the player.
An atypical profile with constant evolution
Sharp isn’t your typical high-pedigree prospect. In fact, he began his college career as a quarterback without any draft stars. His first destination was Southeastern Louisiana, where he eventually became a tight end.
Its evolution was clear:
- 2022: Transition to TE (78 yards, 1 TD)
- 2023: greater prominence (288 yards, 3 TDs)
- He led Oklahoma in receptions
- Final season in LSU Tigers football with 252 yards and 2 TD
In the pre-draft process, he stood out in the East-West Shrine Bowl, where he recorded a top speed of 21.19 MPH, being the fastest on the first day.
A physical, versatile, and aggressive tight end
At 1.96 m and almost 113 kg, Sharp offers an interesting profile:
- Inline and slot alignment
- Very aggressive locking capability
- Amazing mobility on short routes
- Experience as a broker in wildcat systems
A scout quoted by Dane Brugler described him revealingly: “There’s a certain madness to the way he plays .” That intensity translates into his physical play and his impact on blocking.
It’s not TE1… but it is a value bet
Sharp isn’t coming in as an immediate starter. Not even as a TE2 in the short term. But he is a project with clear upside potential and value in specialized teams.
The Bucs had already shown genuine interest by inviting him for an official Top 30 tour before the Draft. Ultimately, they selected him even before his projected seventh-round pick.
How it fits into the Tampa Bay TE room
Tampa’s tight ends room arrives with questions:
- Cade Otton (renewed) as TE1
- Payne Durham with a place almost guaranteed
- Uncertainty with Devin Culp
- Ko Kieft as a blocking and ST specialist
Sharp’s arrival adds direct competition. His hybrid profile could pose a threat to players like Culp or even Kieft if he manages to adapt quickly.
In addition, he brings something that was missing: a mix of athletic threat and physicality in blocking.
Conclusion
The Bucs didn’t wait. They saw value and acted. Bauer Sharp represents exactly that: a low-risk bet with interesting potential.
If he develops his talent and adapts quickly, he could become a useful piece within the offensive scheme… and one of the quiet steals of the Draft.
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This article was translated from it’s original form in Spanish to English via META AI.
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