The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have their rookies report for training camp today. After the long offseason we will finally see players in the building as the team prepares to take the practice field in the coming days. As of today, the offseason is officially over.
There has been a lot of hype around this Bucs rookie class. It has been heralded as one of the best draft classes in the NFL this year by most of the respected analysts. There is every reason to be excited about this group.
But what are reasonable expectations? Where does hype end and reality begin?
Here are my season predictions for the Buccaneers 2026 rookie class.
Rueben Bain
50 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks
I expect Bain to win the starting edge job opposite of Yaya Diaby. His power and flexibility make him an asset against the run as well as the pass. There isn’t a game situation where you wouldn’t want Bain on the field.
Remember that thBain was considered a top prospect in the draft by many despite him sliding to the 15th overall pick. So it’s fair to expect that his rookie year will be similarly productive to recent top edge prospects such as Aiden Hutchinson, Nick Bosa, Will Anderson. These numbers would put Bain in that territory.Â
Josiah Trotter
84 total tackles, 37 solo tackles, 4.5 sacks,Â
Last year’s Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger put up a year of over 150 total tackles. I wouldn’t put Trotter in that conversation. However, the 2023 top linebacker Jack Campbell might be a fair rookie bar of 95 total tackles with limited and developing coverage skills.
I predict that Trotter has fewer total tackles because his sideline to sideline speed is modest. However, he’s great at attacking forward and I believe he will have more sacks than the typical rookie linebacker. Also keep in mind that Trotter’s value also comes in taking on blocks and muddling up the box for someone else to make a tackle.Â
Ted Hurst
28 receptions, 450 yards, 6 touchdowns.
Hurst might be the 4th wide receiver on the depth chart, but he will get his opportunities. He is the only true big body outside receiver on the roster. He’s also a vertical threat and a red zone target, which the Bucs are otherwise lacking.Â
With no true number one receiver on the roster, the passing game will be more of a committee. No star demanding targets, just feeding the open man. And with so many weapons on this team drawing attention, Hurst will get his share of one on one coverage to be that open man.
Keionte Scott
87 total tackles, 4 interceptions, 15 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks
Even though he was a fourth round pick, I fully expect Scott to start at nickel. Not only do I expect him to start, but I expect him to thrive. The nickel is a vital role in this Todd Bowles defense and Scott was born to play it.Â
Extremely fast and extremely physical, Scott is a force in coverage as well as in the box. After having 13 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks last season, it’s fair to expect similar numbers as a rookie. Especially considering how aggressive Bowles is with his nickels.
DeMonte Capehart
12 total tackles, 0.5 sacks.
Let’s be honest about what Capehart is. He’s a space eating run stuffer who will see limited snaps as a rotational player. The modest impact he’ll have won’t always be reflected in the box score.
Billy Schrauth
In a perfect world, Schrauth doesn’t have to play. But let’s assume he sees limited action. I expect to see a good run blocker and solid pass blocker who flashes enough to makes you believe he can start down the line.
Bauer Sharp
14 catches, 140 yards, 1 touchdown
Sharp is an interesting situation. He enters camp fighting for the fourth tight end job. However, by the end of the year I believe he will be the primary backup at tight end. I don’t expect an overwhelmingly strong year as a pass catcher, but I expect a strong finish down the stretch.
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