Building a Bully in the Bay: Grading the Buccaneers' 2026 Draft Class
In recent weeks, we’ve talked extensively about teams doubling down on physicality—whether it's the Lightning’s brawler mentality on the ice or the Jaguars beefing up the trenches in Jacksonville. Down in Tampa Bay, General Manager Jason Licht and Head Coach Todd Bowles clearly caught the same bug.
If there’s one major takeaway from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2026 draft class, it’s that this front office was on a singular mission: draft grown men who want to hit people. The Bucs didn’t reach for flashy skill players early; instead, they anchored their draft in the trenches, fortified the middle of their defense, and added versatile, hard-nosed depth across the roster.
Let’s break down every pick of the Bucs’ 2026 class and hand out some grades.
The 2026 Buccaneers Draft Class
Round 1 (No. 15): Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Round 2 (No. 46): Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
Round 3 (No. 84): Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
Round 4 (No. 116): Keionte Scott, CB, Miami
Round 5 (No. 155): DeMonte Capehart, DT, Clemson
Round 5 (No. 160): Billy Schrauth, G, Notre Dame
Round 6 (No. 185): Bauer Sharp, TE, LSU
Round 1, Pick 15: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Grade: A+
Nobody expected Bain to slip out of the top 10, but when he fell into Tampa Bay’s lap at 15, Licht couldn’t turn the card in fast enough. The Bucs desperately needed a premier edge rusher, and Bain is an absolute game-wrecker. He paced the FBS with 83 quarterback pressures during his tenure at Miami and racked up 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss last season. Bain is explosive off the snap, violent with his hands, and immediately elevates Todd Bowles' defensive front. Getting a top-tier pass rusher without having to surrender draft capital to trade up is a massive victory for this front office.
Round 2, Pick 46: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
Grade: B+
You can never have enough physicality in the middle of a Todd Bowles defense, and Trotter brings exactly that. The Mizzou linebacker has elite football pedigree and a thumping, downhill style that fits perfectly in the NFC South. While some might argue linebacker wasn’t the absolute most glaring need on the board, Trotter’s high football IQ and sheer stopping power make him a quintessential "Bucs guy." He'll be an immediate asset in run defense and a core special teamer from day one.
Round 3, Pick 84: Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
Grade: B
The Bucs needed to inject some youth into the receiver room, and they found a highly productive target in Hurst. Coming off a dominant 2025 campaign where he earned First-Team All-Sun Belt honors with 71 catches for 1,004 yards, Hurst has a knack for finding open grass and securing the football. He might not be a blazer, but his route-running maturity and red-zone efficiency (9 touchdowns in '24, 6 in '25) will make him a reliable security blanket as he develops behind Tampa's veteran wideouts.
Round 4, Pick 116: Keionte Scott, CB, Miami
Grade: A-
This is arguably the steal of Day 3. Scott is a defensive Swiss Army knife. After a winding college career that took him from JUCO to Auburn, and eventually to Miami, he proved himself as a top-tier slot defender. In 2025, he logged 13 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, and took two interceptions back for touchdowns. Bowles loves defensive backs who can tackle, blitz, and play multiple roles. Scott fits that mold perfectly and should immediately compete for snaps at the nickel spot.
Round 5, Pick 155: DeMonte Capehart, DT, Clemson
Grade: B
At this stage in the draft, you are looking for rotational pieces with upside, and Capehart checks both boxes. He’s a massive presence in the middle who demonstrated elite run-stuffing ability at Clemson. The Bucs believe he has some largely untapped pass-rushing potential as well. Even if he solely operates as an early-down run-stuffer to keep Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey fresh, this is a highly functional depth pick.
Round 5, Pick 160: Billy Schrauth, G, Notre Dame
Grade: B+
You don't build a bully without adding to the offensive line. Schrauth brings that classic Notre Dame pedigree to the interior of the Bucs' trenches. He’s a gritty, technically sound run-blocker who will do the dirty work required to open lanes for the backfield. He provides instant, reliable depth with the potential to develop into a starter down the road.
Round 6, Pick 185: Bauer Sharp, TE, LSU
Grade: B
Zac Robinson’s offense requires versatile tight ends who can move around the formation, and Sharp fits the bill perfectly. The Oklahoma-turned-LSU product hauled in 66 total catches over his last two collegiate seasons. He’s a do-it-all "move" tight end who can be utilized effectively in two-TE sets, giving the offense another layer of schematic flexibility.
Overall Class Grade: A-
Final Thoughts:
The Buccaneers didn't reinvent the wheel this spring, but they didn't need to. They identified their primary weakness—the pass rush—and addressed it emphatically with a falling star in Rueben Bain Jr. From there, they spent the rest of the draft accumulating tough, physical football players who fit their hard-nosed culture.
Licht and Bowles understand that playoff games are won in the trenches and through sheer attrition. By adding the likes of Trotter, Capehart, and Schrauth, alongside dynamic playmakers like Scott, the Bucs have quietly built one of the most balanced and rugged draft classes of 2026. If these rookies can absorb the playbook as well as they hit the sled, the rest of the NFC South is in for a long, bruised season.
