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! š
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 doesnāt grade a draft until after their first season.
I get a kick out of the Jets getting an Aā¦..,they had 3 1st round picksā¦.duhh!!!
May 2nd, 2026 at 7:31 pm
Heās like Otton if Otton was a really good blocker and was fastā¦.
Or maybe not like Otton at all.
May 2nd, 2026 at 7:36 pm
Does this mark the end of the Ko Keif experience? I know JL can’t quit his gingers
May 2nd, 2026 at 7:43 pm
I disagree the grades are silly, they are more a measurement of matching need to prospect Outlook, so in that regard you can look at what has been done, but yes 3 years are needed to evaluate actual value achieved
May 2nd, 2026 at 7:48 pm
Unlikely.
May 2nd, 2026 at 7:49 pm
Should’ve signed Pavia,give Baker a push in his contract yr..
May 2nd, 2026 at 7:52 pm
Finally someone else that sees how inept that 3rd round pick of a WR from a B rated college truly was.
Mike Evans left for great reasons. He needs a proven QB that can perform in clutch moments. Not someone that crumbles under pressure.
Now weāre supposed to believe this rookie will be Evans replacement?
False!!!!!
May 2nd, 2026 at 7:55 pm
I don’t try to grade the draft picks
I grade the effort for what they are trying to do
The Bucs are trying to get more physical
And they want players that play with physicality
So l give them an A for effort
May 2nd, 2026 at 8:00 pm
LynchMob50, a WR who quits on his route and goes in the opposite direction in the middle of a throw doesn’t have any reason to complain. The real reason he left was because of half ass ignorant Tampa fans like you.
May 2nd, 2026 at 8:08 pm
Duane Davis has a bee in his bonnet.
So Mike Evans sucks, and he left because a few fans have an opposing opinion from the lemmings that Pom Pom waive for Bowles.
Got it. Makes so much sense.
Just gotta post it better.
May 2nd, 2026 at 8:09 pm
We could go with 3 RBs & 5 TEs but I doubt it.
May 2nd, 2026 at 8:23 pm
I like the positions that were addressed in the draft. A on that! The order and players chosen is anybody’s guess. I’m excited about Danny Smith and special teams this year. It should boost performance in the other phases with better field position and not bringing the defense back on the field after blocked kicks.
May 2nd, 2026 at 8:25 pm
Once I found out that Mike Evans hangs out with LeSean McCoy one of the slimiest characters in the universe I lost most of my vast respect for him. Heās definitely not the guy I thought he was. You can tell the front office is quite upset with him.
May 2nd, 2026 at 8:35 pm
I don’t think an overall draft grade is significant because there’s really no common measurement for it. What about all seven players sticking with the team: one or two as average starters, a couple backups, and the rest special teamers/taxi squaders? Can you compare that to two All-Pros and the rest cut from the team? I think it’s more important to get quality than quantity. People talk a lot about drafting for “depth.” I think you get depth from the better teams’ waiver offerings.
May 2nd, 2026 at 8:35 pm
Evans was a great player for the Bucs and contributer to the area. Now he is the enemy on another team. He should have retired here. Only thing that can save him on that decision is a ring and I want our defense to deny it.
May 2nd, 2026 at 8:48 pm
Noted contributor on JBF, JimBobBuc, gave the Bucs draft a B-:
” JimBobBuc loves Bain, Keionte Scott, Ted Hurst, and Bauer Scott. He said that LB Trotter is weak against the pass while the Bucs need a vastly improved pass defense. The Bucs need an interior pass rush but Licht picked DT DeMonte Capehart who’s a run stopper but not an effective pass rusher. These additions will be the last of the season, as Licht rarely picks up effective players at the final roster cuts.”
May 2nd, 2026 at 9:08 pm
Josiah Trotter isn’t weak against the pass
He’s a MIKE LB, and they covers a zone, not a particular player
For some reason this fanbase think a MIKE LB suppose to cover RB, TE
But that’s not the case, they suppose to drop 8-12 yards in coverage
They backpedal while keeping their eyes on the QB, they cover their zone
But the primary responsibility of the MIKE is to stop the run
And that’s what they drafted Josiah Trotter for, he’s excellent against the run
May 2nd, 2026 at 9:14 pm
This 2026 defense will be nothing like the 2025 defense
May 2nd, 2026 at 9:34 pm
We will see about that Lakeland, I hope youāre right ! but I have no faith in Bowles, and Trotter might be too slow for a Mike linebacker in the NFL. I hope the kid is fast enough but those are just facts and only time will tell.
May 2nd, 2026 at 9:39 pm
Is Sean JBF draft guru going to do a podcast on the Bucs (+ NFC S) drafts?
I really enjoyed his player ranking breakdown by positions pre-draft.
May 2nd, 2026 at 9:47 pm
The Bucs drafted Josiah Trotter to stop the run
He shoots gaps, clog run lanes, a good tackler
14 TFL, 14 QB, he’s a high graded run stopper
That’s why they drafted him, to stop the run
To call the defense, and he’s very good at it
He fit the bill for the player they want
They met with him at the combine, then brought him in for a top 30 visit
They got the player they wanted
Teams deserves a high grade, when they get the players they wanted
May 2nd, 2026 at 9:48 pm
14 QB pressures
May 2nd, 2026 at 10:04 pm
Perhaps this new DL Robinson can make enough of an impact that Kancey won’t be beaten to a pulp and can stay on the field.
May 2nd, 2026 at 10:43 pm
I agree it was a good draft. Too bad its another solid F- on the head coach for this season. I would love nothing more than to be proven wrong….but we all know this talent will go another season being underutilized and undeveloped in an over complicated scheme.
Enjoy your last year in the league Todd.
May 2nd, 2026 at 10:48 pm
Lynchmob does sound more and more like aqualung… š¤ Hmmm, I think you guys were right
May 2nd, 2026 at 10:52 pm
I gave us a B
It could go up but B is the floor šš¼. Solid with a number of immediate contributers
May 2nd, 2026 at 11:51 pm
C
May 3rd, 2026 at 12:30 am
LOL the Bauer kid wouldāve gone undrafted, yes he has plenty of heart but arms skinnier than a 10 year old. Maybe he can block Tezra Johnson in practice. Maybe. That will be it in the NFL. Otherwise Lite lucked into B-Rex who Blwoes will
ruin in training camp, a 1970s era linebacker, a juco WR with the dropsies, a lion hearted kid from Miami who is inspirational but also is weak in coverage, and a scrub in the 5th round who wouldnāt have been drafted .
Itās all good though. The 7 best players in the draft, whoever they might be, could be drafted and this team will still finish in the NFC South basement, humiliated again. This way is cheaper. Thanks Glazers.
Thanks, Jason, thanks Todd.
Mike Evans is happy and Iām happy for him.
May 3rd, 2026 at 3:27 am
I originally gave it a B+ because of the trade up we did with the last pick of Sharp, i didnt get that….but after seeing more, now I know, so converted to “A”.
Im a little leary on Capeheart and Hurst…and we finally drafted a G for backup in the 5th and I always trust Licht with O line.
I still wonder if Bain hadnt fell and if Ioane wasnt taken the pick right before us if we wouldve picked Ioane. Its all good tho, the draft gave us some gifts. Now to utilize them correctly.
May 3rd, 2026 at 5:51 am
Draft grades are as stupid as mock drafts. It’s at least two years down the road until the real grades come in, and by than nobody cares, or remembers. Did the 49ers get a C for drafting Purdy in the 7th? I will say Pete’s wrong about drafting a receiver in the 3rd. Unless he really believes Evans X spot didn’t need to be filled? I’m glad we filled Mike’s spot with Hurst.
May 3rd, 2026 at 6:40 am
3.28.Evens,
You clearly are a angry and miserable man.
I will give you a little free counseling this morning
If you step back for a second:
You clearly care a lot about the team ā that part is clear,But the way youāre expressing it is amplifying frustration, not insight
And itās probably making the experience of being a fan worse for you, not better
A more balanced approach would be:
āHere are the concerns I have ā size, scheme fit, development ā but Iāll watch how they progress before writing them off.ā
You donāt have to be blindly optimistic, but living at the extreme negative end all the time isnāt healthy ā itās a stress loop.
If you actually want to enjoy the season (and be taken seriously), try leaving a little room for uncertainty and development instead of assuming the worst outcome every time.
May 3rd, 2026 at 6:57 am
LOL I hope it is a B…That changes to an A+ in a year or two Joe.
Go Bucs!
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:19 am
@99, you know, the usual trolls…gotta spout off to get some attention….sometimes offer a bit of a logical post here and there, but usually just needing attention.
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:44 am
“Lakeland” Pass coverage is a developing part of Trotter’s game. He did improve in coverage during his 2025 season. As you outlined, he has excellent run stopping and pass rush efficiency. And does not miss many tackles. Just 21 y/o.
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:53 am
It looks like Prisco graded harder than most of them.
When comparing Prisco, here is what I noted.
1. He gave 3 A’s (1 A+, 1A and 1 A-). All had better draft capital than the Bucs.
2. He gave 6 B+’s. 5 of the 6 had better draft capital than the Bucs.
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:11 pm
If what I’m reading is accurate, LVD is retiring, and ME13 is not. I hope LaVonte is retiring. Evans is stupid if he doesn’t.