Bruce Feldman: Jason Licht, Bucs Got Steal Of The Draft Class
April 28th, 2026
Thievery.
Everybody and their brother seems to think the Bucs got a steal in the draft: Hurricane-hitting nickel corner Keionte Scott or his edge rusehr teammate Rueben Bain.
Well, almost everyone.
One of the top college football writers out there, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic (Joe’s top college football writers would be, in alphabetical order, Feldman, Brett McMurphy and Andy Staples.) is getting more and more NFL assignments.
Joe loves this because Feldman is not only a sharp guy, he has such a wide net of coaches for sources.
Feldman was in Pittsburgh for the draft last week. And since the draft wrapped up, Feldman ranked the teams with the best picks. At No. 5 is the Bucs.
Now the vast majority of people who cover the draft or the NFL believe Scott was a work of theft by Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht. Not Feldman, though he loves the Scott pick. Rather, Feldman believes the Bucs taking 6-4 receiver Ben Hurst from Georgia State was the top steal by any team.
Third-rounder Ted Hurst from Georgia State is the steal of this class for a team that needs a young playmaker outside.
“I love Ted Hurst,” an NFL receiver coach told me of the 6-3-plus 206-pounder with 4.42 speed and an 11-3 broad jump. “I would say he’s the biggest sleeper in the draft, but he blew up like a month ago.”
There’s a 31 out of 32 chance that said receivers coach is not employed by the Bucs. This is good to know because Hurst apparently has made an impression on others in the league.
It sure doesn’t sound to Joe as if Hurst is Licht’s version of Chucky picking the bad Dexter Jackson, the receiver out of App State.
Woof.
.@BruceFeldmanCFB highlights Ted Hurst who believes if Hurst went to the SEC he’d be a 1st-round selection.
I cannot wait for the former @GeorgiaStateFB star to fire the cannons! Hurst is a 💎 #WeAreTheKrewe
🎥: @TA_FootballShow
pic.twitter.com/kV5Hzvcx3f— SleeperBucs (@SleeperTBBUCS) April 27, 2026
April 28th, 2026 at 9:12 am
Ted Hurst not Ben hurst
April 28th, 2026 at 9:13 am
He’s going to look like a bust because he’s the 4th best receiver on our team, which is not the case, Godwin (when healthy) n EE are bonafide WR1s, JMac looks like he is on his way to being a high end 2, and both our RBs are great in the pass game, gonna be hard for Hurst to make an impact, 2 years down the road he very well could be our WR2 behind EE
April 28th, 2026 at 9:14 am
I love summer but maybe we could skip it this year and start watching some footbal?
April 28th, 2026 at 9:15 am
Pick for the future is fine with the WR core that we have. Go BUCS!!
April 28th, 2026 at 9:17 am
I’ll Say it again, when I look at the tape of the kid, I see a whole lot of AJ Green with a mix of George Pickens and a dash of Tee Higgins. I love this pick.
April 28th, 2026 at 9:18 am
Looking forward to seeing the Jalon Daniels to Ted Hurst connection in preseason.
April 28th, 2026 at 9:19 am
He is good enough to replace Godwin which makes me wonder if he will truly be healthy.
April 28th, 2026 at 9:25 am
Licht is good evaluating WRS and OL
April 28th, 2026 at 9:40 am
He’s going to be way down the depth chart and won’t get many targets. However, he looks very good in red-zone fade routes so I can see him getting targets there.
April 28th, 2026 at 9:42 am
Ted Hurst … a name your accountant could have.
Love it!
If the Bucs offense can keep clicking under our new coordinator, could give this guy some chances like they did last year with Tez. And we had fewer chances last year thanks to all the injuries… sustaining drives got harder and harder. And though I love Tez, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say this guy’s a little bit more of a prototype. LOL
April 28th, 2026 at 9:45 am
bye bye shep lol
really liked this pick too..polish up his route running and he’ll do magic!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
April 28th, 2026 at 9:53 am
Emeka Ebuka playing well for HALF A YEAR does not mean you should engrave it in stone that he is a “bonafide number one receiver” Mr commenter above. Spare me, a guy going in to his second year that has had 8 good games is not above being pushed. All we have are slot guys. Every last one of our receivers are slot guys and zero elite long speed. There is one guy on the team who is a true X. A go up and get it type guy with actual LONG SPEED. It could be Hurst that lines up on the outside exclusively while your anointed one Ebuka is moved around along with McMillan. Idc where the game is going, or is. A true stud x is still a premier talent that you want
April 28th, 2026 at 9:58 am
What does exactly “steal” .mean? The pundits say the ravens “steal ” the draft every year ,however where is all the SB wins with these “steals:?? Doest make sense to me… Its the quiet teams that rise to the top..
April 28th, 2026 at 9:58 am
Gruden is hilariously entertaining, he can’t draft worth a spit.
April 28th, 2026 at 10:18 am
I don’t think the Bucs gave a outside WR better than Ted Hurst
They have a bunch of slot receivers
I won’t be surprised if Ted Hurst is a day 1 starter
April 28th, 2026 at 10:19 am
“”have a outside WR better than Ted Hurst “”*
April 28th, 2026 at 10:34 am
The Bucs signed UDFA WR Eric Rivers from Georgia Tech
He’s going to compete also as a Slot WR/PR
He was productive at Tech as a WR and Punt Returner
5’10 180 lbs, ran a 4.35 at the combine, 1.52 10 Yard Split
April 28th, 2026 at 10:46 am
I know it seems universally accepted here that the existing group of receivers is outstanding, partly because Baker “singlehandedly” ruined the passing game; but I don’t think they are unentrenchable. That is, I don’t think it is hard to imagine a tall, swift grabber who could play better than two or three of them (take your pick) if given the chance. And none of the incumbents excels in the red zone, which is especially important because we do not have a goal-line running back. So, I have high hopes for Mr. Hurst, who seems to have the quiet confidence that characterizes natural talent.