Bucs Don’t Need Ted Hurst To Be Versatile
July 31st, 2026
Solid.
The thing about Bucs rookie Ted Hurst jumping out at Joe are the things that do not jump out.
Hurst hasn’t made a lot of splash plays so far in OTAs and training camp (all underwear football until next week). It’s not that he can’t. He just hasn’t. Yet.
But it is the nondescript, bread-and-butter plays that Hurst makes play after play after play. He catches just about everything thrown his way.
In short, it appears Hurst is a reliable receiver.
While Hurst has the skillset to be an X-receiver (bolt downfield), it seems Hurst can fill just about any role. Asked yesterday if that increases Hurst’s chances of getting on the field, Bucs coach Todd Bowles said no.
Why is that? Because, Bowles said, the Bucs have plenty of versatile receivers. They just need Hurst to focus on one thing and be good at that.
“No, it doesn’t force him on the field early,” Bowles said. “But ‘J-Mac’ [Jalen McMillan] and Emeka [Egbuka] can do that as well, so we don’t have a problem there.
“We just started [Hurst] out. He’s the tallest, and when you get a rookie like that in here, you usually try to concentrate on one position right there. So, that’s kind of where we have him at.”
Well, Joe cannot believe the Bucs would look at Hurst as a problem with his versatility. But that goes to show how deep the Bucs’ receiver room is.
The way Tez Johnson tore up the Bucs’ second-team defense yesterday, and Tez played fine on Wednesday, Joe isn’t so sure Hurst is the de facto No. 4 receiver.
July 31st, 2026 at 9:04 am
Sounds good.
Looks good.
Wake me when they are not running around in their underwears…
July 31st, 2026 at 9:09 am
Tez is much improved from last season, so I can see him holding down the #4 spot. But Hurst has something none of the other receivers have on the team, and that is height. He will get opportunities, especially in the red zone, to get on the field and make plays.
July 31st, 2026 at 9:14 am
Good comp for Hurst, is Chris Henry(r.i.p)
July 31st, 2026 at 9:27 am
Bowles commenting on the offense is hilarious considering he’s a “Defensive Guru” and his defense quit in him last year.
Move this dumpster fire along and find a coach either offensive or defensive who can actually be good at his “specialty”.
My 3 happiest Bucs moments were the 2 Superbowls and the day they flush Toilet Bowles!
July 31st, 2026 at 9:28 am
Hurst says he is more of a 4.3 guy when asked about his speed. He said he was happy with his 4.45 at Indy because he pulled up and slowed down at the 30 yard mark. I wish the interviewer would have asked him why. But if he really runs at 4.3 speed the Bucs may have really hit a home run on this pick. I’m so excited to see what this kids gonna develop into. He was definitely one of my favorite wrs coming out this year. He’s a bit of a gamble but the one with the highest ceiling you could get on the 3rd day of the draft.
July 31st, 2026 at 9:28 am
WBL
i was thinking Martavis Bryant but Chris Henry is a great comp
GO BUCS!!!!
July 31st, 2026 at 9:29 am
@WBL,
If he’s even close, this is a great draft pick. Loved that guy.
July 31st, 2026 at 9:37 am
6-4? I really want him on the field. Often. Especially if he proves to be as good at jump balls as Mike was. Todd…do not shoot yourself in the foot with this dude sir!
Go Bucs!
July 31st, 2026 at 9:42 am
@ warrin
To early to tell but I hope you are right on that comp…
July 31st, 2026 at 9:45 am
“i was thinking Martavis Bryant but Chris Henry is a great comp”
Just as good, I think he’s a bit more fluid in terms of lateral mobility than Bryant was and the way he gets off the ball you can almost see the fast break potential he’d have on the basketball court.
Was a big Chris Henry fan, Hurst is faster than he was, but stature wise and play style I see some of what Henry did well. Wasn’t the highest producing WR, but he fit into that room while playing a compliment to Ocho Cinco & TJ Houshmandzadeh
July 31st, 2026 at 9:45 am
I think he’ll go out some just to stretch the field and give opposing teams a little scare before he really gets the ball tossed his way. They are nervous about him for sure, especially he doesn’t drop many balls at all. He’s gonna get out there!!
July 31st, 2026 at 9:48 am
BS I haven’t ever spoken about Hurst very much. Maybe I’ll just save my comments and fade away Joe.
July 31st, 2026 at 9:55 am
The WR position is the least of my worries right now. And we’re fine at safety and LB too. It’s the two lines where I’m not sure if the health of those boys is good enough for us to be really good. But, hope is the fuel of August!
July 31st, 2026 at 10:01 am
Bottom line is that there is high quality depth at WR. So a few injuries won’t bring the offense to a halt. Right now I believe Otton may end up with 3rd most receptions on the team. (Que the Otton haters….)
July 31st, 2026 at 10:10 am
Buccaneers stocked at receiver and running back. Offensive line is top 5. Up to the OC to make this a top offense.
July 31st, 2026 at 10:31 am
He’ll be our redzone Evans replacement threat….a little smaller catch radius though.
July 31st, 2026 at 10:40 am
@ OLDSkul
“Que the Otton haters”
“Hate” is such a strong word…
If I believe Otton is a “slightly below average” TE – does that mean I “hate” him?
July 31st, 2026 at 10:40 am
Like it, or not he’s Evans replacement at the X receiver spot. If you’re going to lock him in on one position that would be it. Ted is going to get his chance early on.
July 31st, 2026 at 11:10 am
If Chris Godwin is NOT “CHRIS GODWIN” AGAIN (plus an injury or two to our other receivers), & they are forced to have to rely-on THIS GUY… Then, Baker will be in BIG BIG TROUBLE.
July 31st, 2026 at 11:11 am
this is going to pay off when someone tweaks a hamstring and the next guy is just as good. tez is a playmaker, throw deep to him to make defenses respect
July 31st, 2026 at 11:33 am
Hurst isn’t a guy they plan to count on in 2026. If he makes 20-30 catches this season and gets his feet wet they’ll take it. They want him to learn the route tree, get exposure to other defenses and learn the little things experience teaches.
The real goal for him is that he’s ready to take on a starter’s role in 2027 when the Bucs potentially part ways with Godwin. Providing everyone else keeps progressing to make that decision easier.
July 31st, 2026 at 11:44 am
Let’s pray Boweles doesn’t screwup this young rookie
July 31st, 2026 at 12:04 pm
Hurst will be our de facto X Receiver sooner rather than later.
Which basically makes him our WR1 at that point when he becomes our starting X.
Regardless of where they lost gun on the depth chart.
He will be our WR1.
July 31st, 2026 at 12:04 pm
*list him, not lost gun
July 31st, 2026 at 1:56 pm
X reciever and #1 reciever are not the same thing @ Eric
He’s learning X now but no way he’s our #1.
1 of the things I like about this kid is his contested catch ability. Ranked 2nd in FBS last year.
Basketball background should help him in the redzone
July 31st, 2026 at 3:40 pm
Why couldn’t he develop into our number #1 WR?? I think he has as good a chance as anyone else. CG is probably playing his last year here. I hope they can find a way to resign him but it seems unlikely. So it really between Egbuka, McMillian and Ted H. I think his development may take a few years because of the level of competition he played in college. If I had to pick one with the highest ceiling it would be Hurst. I love Egbuka and McMillian too but that’s what I see.