Steve Smith compares Bucs WR Ted Hurst’s standout ability to that of an upcoming Pro Football Hall of Famer
The former All-Pro spoke strongly about the Bucs’ newest wideout and compared his skills to a Hall of FAmer.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2026 NFL Draft is now in the books. The team managed to land a quartet of potentially quick difference makers in their first four picks.
While the Bucs found a three potential starters on defense in Rueben Bain, Jr., Josiah Trotter, and CB Keionte Scott, they might have found a true sleeper in the third round with Georgia State WR Ted Hurst.
Or at least that’s what an old Bucs nemesis thinks.
Former Panthers WR Steve Smith praised the selection of Hurt by the Bucs as his favorite sleeper wide receiver in the entire 2026 draft, and he compared his skills to that of Class of 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame member Larry Fitzgerald.
Steve Smith says Bucs third round draft pick Ted Hurst is a ‘diamond in the rough’ in this year’s draft
“And this is the Larry Fitzgerald comp that I’m referring to,” Smith said. “This is a Fitz catch. Man, that’s one of the things that people don’t — one of the things that people don’t really understand. The ability to control your body, drop your weight, change position, and still concentrate on catching the football with your hands. That is a skill set that not a lot of people have.”
Alright then.
It’s not every day you hear a third round draft pick be compared — or have a skill or trait of his compared — to a Pro Football Hall of Famer, but that’s what Smith has unequivocally done here.
Hurst is exceptional at being able to find the football, turn, and go get it. And in watching the passes come in from his quarterback, it looks like it’s something he’s had to do to succeed.
Clearly, the passes will come in exponentially cleaner from Baker Mayfield. However, if he needs to go up and get the ball over or around a defender, or if he needs to adjust on the fly to a misplaced ball, Hurst could indeed be one of the best in this class at doing that.
