Grading The Buccaneers’ 2026 Draft Class: Jason Licht’s masterclass puts the team back in playoff contention
Jason Licht pulled off one of his best drafts as Buccaneers GM and it could end up as the best ever if the guys he took with the last few picks work out. Now, it’s time to hand out final grades for each pick and a final grade for the full class.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had to knock the 2026 NFL Draft out of the park if it wanted to become a serious playoff contender again.
It’s safe to say Jason Licht and Co. did just that and the Buccaneers’ final draft grades reflect as much.
Let’s stop wasting time and dive in.
Buccaneers’ final draft grades for the 2026 class
Round 1, No. 15: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (FL)
Sure, the Buccaneers’ final draft grades are boosted because the rest of the NFL let Bain Jr. fall to them at 15, but hey, it is what it is. That’s on the NFL, not the Bucs.
Even with that context, Bain Jr. is exactly what the Buccaneers pass rush, and defense as a whole, needed. He’s a ruthless, powerful, and twitchy pass rusher that adds the much-needed nastiness the Buccaneers are looking for on defense. The dude is all business and that should wear off on his new teammates, further strengthening the team’s mindset, as well as the locker room culture.
Yes, Bain Jr. doesn’t have ideal size and length and that’s going to hamper him at times in the NFL. There’s no doubt about it. However, his tape shows plenty of potential to where he can become a very good pass rusher over the course of his career. Especially when considering the defense he’ll be playing in.
Grade: A+
Round 2, No. 46: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
Like EDGE/the pass rush, the Buccaneers needed to make a serious investment in the linebacker room, despite making some good additions in free agency.
Enter Trotter, who’s the perfect complement to the newly-acquired Alex Anzalone. Trotter is a fierce run defender who, like Bain Jr., plays with his hair on fire and is as physical as it gets. A rare “thumper” at MIKE, Trotter is best when he plays downhill and he’s a proficient blitzer. That’ll come in handy, big time, in Todd Bowles’ defense.
Trotter’s biggest weakness is his zone coverage abilities. He’s going to have to work on those and while they can be developed – there’s no guarantee that happens. That knocks the grade down a bit, but it’s still a good pick.
Grade: B
Round 3, No. 84: Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
It was pretty surprising to see Ted Hurst last all the way to No. 84 and the fact the Buccaneers traded back, yet still snagged him, makes the pick even better.
No one is replacing Mike Evans, but Hurst can certainly help offset the loss of the big-play threat Evans provided during his time with the Buccaneers. Hurst is 6-foot-4, 210 pounds and runs a 4.4 forty. With those measureables and his ball-tracking skills, it’s easy to see why Hurst is a guy the Bucs wanted.
The Buccaneers’ receiver room was in good shape coming into the draft, but it was missing that big-bodied, downfield threat that could win 1-on-1. Hurst fixes that and gives the Bucs a well-rounded room, as well.
Grade: B+
Round 4, No. 116: Keionte Scott, CB, Miami (FL)
Scott should immediately step in and take over the Buccaneers’ nickelback spot. The dude has an extremely fast processor that he combines with lightning-quick play speed and physicality.
In other words: Scott knows how to create all kinds of havoc from the inside. He also has good enough coverage skills to where he can fill in on passing downs, as well.
The Buccaneers got great value with this pick, they filled a need, and they found a way to keep recent investments Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish in a spot where they can find substantial playing time, as both will compete for the outside starting job opposite Zyon McCollum.
Grade: A
Round 5, No. 155: DeMonte Capehart, DL, Clemson
Capehart is a massive man who can move very well for his size. He mostly played nose tackle at Clemson, so it makes sense why the Buccaneers drafted him.
They need someone to replace Greg Gaines, who was Vita Vea’s primary backup. He has good burst off the line and scrimmage and his long arms help him shed blockers at the point of attack. He has heavy, violent hands and he knows how to use them, as well.
Capehart is a “what you see is what you get” type player, but that’s fine. The Buccaneers know how to use him and they filled a need, as well.
Grade: B
Round 5, No. 160: Billy Schrauth, G, Notre Dame
Schrauth was arguably Notre Dame’s best offensive line before his season ended early to injury. And honestly, that’s exactly how and why he fell to the Bucs – his injury history.
An MCL sprain is what got him last year. He had right ankle surgery in 2024 and surgery on his left foot after his senior season in high school back in 2022. Lower extremity injuries are always concerning for big guys, especially multiple injuries.
Regardless, the Buccaneers have a potential starter if Schrauth stays healthy. He’s got the athleticism, size, and work ethic to succeed in the NFL. He’s also as mean as they come when talking run blocking.
There’s all kinds of upside, but also serious injury concerns. It’ll be interesting to see how this works out.
Grade: C+
Round 6, No. 185: Bauer Sharp, TE, LSU
Licht traded up 10 spots with the Raiders in order to draft Sharp. It cost the 195th overall pick and the Bucs’ final pick, which was No. 223. It was a good trade that allowed them to go ahead and get a decent player in a draft that was on the verge of running out of talent.
When it comes to Sharp, it remains to be seen what his true impact will be. He’s shown some flashes as a receiver and he’s a more-than-willing blocker, but he just doesn’t really do anything special and he doesn’t have unique traits that set him apart from other players.
He does have good special teams experience and versatility, though, and those traits can certainly help him stick on the 53-man roster, but only time will tell.
Grade: C+
Final word
It’s really hard to poke holes in this draft class. Every pick made sense and there weren’t a lot of alarming red flags associated with any of the selections. The most “room for concern” easily comes in the form of Schrauth’s injury history, which could totally derail his chances of making an impact if they linger into his NFL career.
Bain Jr., Trotter, Hurst, and Scott should all find their way onto the field in an impactful way in 2026 and they all have the chance of carving out bigger roles as the years pass. There is both short- and long-term value and impact with this class and if the final three picks end up becoming even solid depth players – it’s a home run from Licht and his crew.
Final Grade: B+
