The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have found another offensive weapon in third-round rookie Ted Hurst. The Georgia State product brings a rare combination of size and speed to Tampa Bay’s receiver room.
The Buccaneers selected Hurst No. 84 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. At 6-foot-4 and 206 pounds, he immediately gives Baker Mayfield another intriguing target with plenty of physical upside.
Hurst’s Speed Stands Out
Hurst’s size makes him an interesting matchup, but his speed could ultimately make him dangerous. Defenders cannot simply rely on his frame when he has the ability to run past them.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently highlighted that combination when discussing Tampa Bay’s young receivers. Fowler believes Hurst could become a major problem once he gains more experience and sharpens his route running.
“The Bucs know how to develop receivers,” Fowler wrote. “That’s the case with third-round rookie Ted Hurst III, who has natural speed to blow by corners. With experience and refined route running, he’ll be dangerous.”
That is an especially encouraging assessment for a third-round pick. Hurst does not need to have every part of his game polished immediately if his athletic ability can create opportunities.
Buccaneers Have Plenty of Receiver Competition
Hurst will have plenty of competition for opportunities as he develops. Tampa Bay has significant expectations for Jalen McMillan, while Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin remain important pieces of the offense.
Fowler believes McMillan could take some statistical production away from Egbuka and Godwin. That could make the receiver hierarchy difficult to predict as the season progresses.
“Tez Johnson can really play, but he’s at best the WR4/WR5 right now,” Fowler added.
That competition should give Tampa Bay plenty of flexibility. The Buccaneers do not need to immediately make Hurst one of their primary targets.
Hurst Could Become a Long-Term Weapon
Instead, Tampa Bay can allow Hurst to develop while finding ways to exploit his biggest strengths. His size gives him advantages against smaller defensive backs, while his speed can create problems before defenders even have an opportunity to use that size against him.
The biggest question will be whether Hurst can consistently translate those physical gifts into complete NFL-level routes. If he does, Tampa Bay could have something special on its hands.
The Buccaneers have already invested heavily in developing their young receiving talent. Hurst gives them another player with the physical profile to become a legitimate weapon.
For a third-round pick, that upside is extremely intriguing. If Hurst’s route running catches up with his natural athleticism, Tampa Bay could have another dangerous option in its offense much sooner than expected.
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