High-Profile “B” Draft Grade Rolls In For Jason Licht
May 2nd, 2026
Rookie Bucs tight end Bauer Sharp.
All kinds “A” grades have been flowing for the Buccaneers’ draft last week.
But not everybody is doing cartwheels down Dale Mabry Highway on their way to Bill Currie Ford.
A common visitor to One Buc Palace for private chats and offseason practice viewing, CBS Sports national NFL writer Pete “Prickly Pete” Prisco, handed the Bucs a “B” grade for their seven 2026 picks. The good news? He gave the Panthers and Falcons a “C,” and dropped a “C+” on New Orleans.
Another NFC South crown for Tampa Bay! 😉
Prisco is a tough grader. Only Dallas, Kansas City, Miami and the Jets got “A” grades from Prisco, who dinged Bucs general manager Jason Licht for drafting a receiver in Round 3 rather than continuing to load up on defense.
Speaking on CBS Sports HQ, Prisco shared his love for the Bucs’ sixth-round pick tight end Bauer Sharp out of LSU. Per host Ryan Wilson, Prisco has been talking up Sharp for months.
“That kid is a mauler in the run game,” Prisco said. “You want to talk about somebody who will block? That kid Bauer Sharp from LSU will block people, and I think that’s why [the Bucs] drafted him.”
Grades are goofy immediately following any draft, but Joe and Ira Kaufman were handing out “Bs” on the Ira Kaufman Podcast, as well. The Bucs addressed needs, took some chances and didn’t cough up draft picks.
Joe also heartily agrees with Prisco. The Panthers’ and Falcons’ draft were uninspiring and almost perplexing.
May 2nd, 2026 at 6:12 pm
I thought Jason Licht’s draft rated a B+ Prisco is a little over rated. He is slipping, along with many of the other guesstamators.
May 2nd, 2026 at 6:24 pm
I gave the Bucs an A
And l gave the Falcons an A-
I thought the Falcons got a lot of value with their picks
Especially for a team that didn’t have a 1st RD pick
I don’t understand the C grade for the Falcons
May 2nd, 2026 at 7:23 pm
I’ve heard that about Sharp from other pundits. Apparently he’s a monstrous blocker. Seems a bit odd for an ex-quarterback. Clearly destined for special teams to begin with. But who knows after that? Kind of the opposite situation of Brate in terms of their skill set, except he was actually drafted in the sixth round.
May 2nd, 2026 at 7:29 pm
TBBF doesn’t grade a draft until after their first season.
I get a kick out of the Jets getting an A…..,they had 3 1st round picks….duhh!!!
May 2nd, 2026 at 7:31 pm
He’s like Otton if Otton was a really good blocker and was fast….
Or maybe not like Otton at all.