2026 NFL Draft Grade: Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- B-

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered the 2026 NFL Draft with a clear blueprint. General manager Jason Licht, head coach Todd Bowles, and their staff had two glaring roster holes to fill after a turbulent offseason: an edge rusher to replace departed production off the edge, and a starting-caliber cornerback to fortify the secondary. The team also needed help at off-ball linebacker following the departure of a legendary defender, plus interior offensive line depth and a developmental tight end for Zac Robinson's 12-personnel-heavy scheme. Over seven picks, the Bucs attacked those needs with a strategy that could generously be described as feast or famine. The result is a B- (67.4) -- a class defined by spectacular value at the top and in the middle rounds, undercut by a head-scratching third-round reach that drags the whole haul down.

Pick 15 (Round 1) -- Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami Grade: A+ (96.0)

This is where the Bucs won the draft. Rueben Bain Jr. was widely viewed as a top-of-the-board talent by most evaluators, yet he somehow slid to the 15th overall pick. Tampa Bay did not hesitate. Bain fills the team's most critical roster hole -- a dynamic, pressure-generating edge rusher who can thrive as a 3-4 outside linebacker in Bowles' scheme. At Miami, Bain showed a relentless motor, a deep pass-rush toolbox, and the kind of bend off the edge that the Bucs have lacked since the departures of their veteran pass rushers. Landing a top-two prospect in this class with the 15th pick is the kind of fortune that can reshape a defensive front. This is the cornerstone pick the franchise needed, and it came at a discount. If Bain hits even 80 percent of his ceiling, this pick alone makes the class a success.

Pick 46 (Round 2) -- Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri Grade: B (70.0)

The linebacker room in Tampa underwent a massive transformation this offseason. With the team's legendary weak-side linebacker moving on, the Bucs signed veteran Alex Anzalone but still needed a long-term answer next to him. Enter Josiah Trotter, a Missouri product who profiles as a three-down off-ball linebacker with the instincts to quarterback the defense and the athleticism to hold up in coverage. Trotter's consensus board had him around the early 40s, so taking him at 46 represents fair value -- he was squarely in the range where most draft analysts expected him to come off the board. He plugs into a unit that also features SirVocea Dennis and Chris Braswell, giving defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers a young, athletic core to develop. The grade here is solid -- not a home run, not a miss, just a straightforward, need-meeting selection that should pay dividends as Trotter learns the NFL speed.

Pick 84 (Round 3) -- Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State Grade: F (28.0)

And then there's the one that hurts the average. Wide receiver was not a priority in this draft -- the Bucs list it as a low-tier need on the pre-draft board, and the roster already features Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Tez Johnson. So when Tampa Bay traded up with Green Bay to grab Ted Hurst at pick 84, draft rooms around the league raised eyebrows. Hurst was widely projected as a Day 3 target, with most boards placing him in the fifth-round range. Taking him in the top of the third round, at a position of relative strength, is a difficult value proposition to defend. Hurst has size and contested-catch ability from his time at Georgia State, but the opportunity cost here is significant. Several higher-graded receivers were still on the board -- players like Germie Bernard, who went to the Steelers at 47, or Antonio Williams, who went to the Commanders at 71. This pick stands as the clear low point of the class, and it is the primary reason the overall grade trends toward the B- range rather than higher.

Pick 116 (Round 4) -- Keionte Scott, CB, Miami Grade: A+ (100.0)

Back-to-back picks from Miami in this draft? Yes, and the second one might be the best value of the entire class. Keionte Scott was viewed as a top-75 talent by many in the predraft community, and the fact that he was still available at pick 116 in the fourth round is borderline absurd. Cornerback was the Bucs' top critical need, and the team already has a strong starting duo in Zyon McCollum and Jamel Dean with promising young depth in Benjamin Morrison. Scott adds more than just depth -- he brings starting-caliber ball skills, instincts in zone coverage, and the kind of versatility that Bowles covets. He can play outside or slide into the slot, and his ability to create turnovers should make him an immediate contributor on third downs and nickel packages. Landing a player of this caliber in the fourth round is the kind of move that separates good drafts from great ones. This is Jason Licht at his best: patient, value-conscious, and filling a critical need without forcing it.

Pick 155 (Round 5) -- DeMonte Capehart, DT, Clemson Grade: D (40.0)

The interior defensive line room in Tampa is stacked. Vita Vea is still one of the most dominant nose tackles in football, A'Shawn Robinson was added in free agency, Calijah Kancey is an ascending interior pass rusher, and the depth chart also includes Nash Hutmacher, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, and Jayson Jones. So taking DeMonte Capehart at pick 155, when most boards had him as a late-round or priority free agent type, feels like a developmental swing at a crowded position. Capehart is a massive run-stuffer from Clemson with the kind of raw power that can eat up double teams, but the Bucs simply had more pressing depth needs elsewhere. The grade reflects a reach on a player at a position that was already in solid shape. If Capehart develops into a rotational run defender, it is a win, but the value math at the time of the pick is hard to defend.

Pick 160 (Round 5) -- Billy Schrauth, OG, Notre Dame Grade: A+ (98.0)

If the Hurst pick was the low point, Billy Schrauth in the fifth round is the redemption arc. Offensive guard was a high-tier need for Tampa Bay, and Schrauth was widely regarded as a top-100 prospect. To land him at pick 160 -- acquired in a trade with Green Bay -- is a masterclass in patience. Schrauth started at both guard spots for the Fighting Irish and brings the kind of power and footwork that fits Zac Robinson's outside-zone scheme. He can compete immediately for playing time on a line that already features Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke, Graham Barton, and Cody Mauch. This is the kind of pick that shores up interior depth for years to come. The grade here is nearly perfect because the value delta is enormous, and it directly addresses a roster need. This is how you build an offensive line through the draft: find athletic, scheme-fit players on Day 3 and develop them.

Pick 185 (Round 6) -- Bauer Sharp, TE, LSU Grade: D (40.0)

Tight end was a medium need entering the draft, but the Bucs had already re-signed Cade Otton and have Payne Durham, Devin Culp, and Ko Kieft on the roster. Bauer Sharp from LSU is an athletic "F" tight end with the kind of seam-stretching ability that could complement Otton in 12 personnel. The issue is the value: Sharp was largely viewed as a priority free agent, with most boards placing him well into the 300s. Taking him at 185, while understandable given the scheme fit, represents a significant reach. The Bucs were clearly targeting a specific tight end profile for Robinson's offense, and they got their guy, but the draft media had several other tight ends ranked higher at that point -- players like Max Klare (Rams, pick 61) or Nate Boerkircher (Jaguars, pick 56). Sharp has developmental traits -- good hands, basketball background, improving route running -- but this is a swing, not a sure thing.

Overall Grade: B- (67.4)

When you look at the class as a whole, it is a tale of two strategies. On one hand, the Bucs landed Rueben Bain Jr. at 15 -- arguably the biggest steal of the entire first round. They followed that with a pair of Day 3 heists in Keionte Scott and Billy Schrauth, both of whom were expected to come off the board two rounds earlier than they did. Those three picks represent exceptional work by Licht and his scouting staff. Josiah Trotter in the second round is a solid, if unspectacular, addition to a position group that needed an infusion of youth. Those four picks alone would earn a solid B+ or better.

But then there are the reaches. Ted Hurst at pick 84 is a genuine head-scratcher -- a wide receiver taken well above his projected range at a position where the Bucs were already deep. DeMonte Capehart and Bauer Sharp in the later rounds are reach-adjacent swings at positions that already had adequate depth. Those picks drag the overall numeric down significantly.

The bottom line: the Buccaneers addressed their two most glaring needs -- edge rusher and cornerback -- with home-run value. They found a potential starting linebacker and a future interior offensive lineman. But the third-round miss cost them a chance at an A-range grade. This is a B- class that could look much better in two years if Bain becomes the force he projects to be and if one of the Day 3 steals develops into a starter. For a team built to compete now with Baker Mayfield at quarterback, the 2026 draft provides immediate help at the most important defensive positions. That is a win, even if the path was bumpy.

Pick-by-Pick Summary