“A Reflection On A Great Draft”
August 22nd, 2026
Since the start of the 2018 NFL Draft, Joe can’t say there are more than four general managers who have been better in the draft than Buccaneers Ring of Honor GM Jason Licht.
The record is out there for all to review.
Sure, it’s easy to throw a darts at Licht’s work, but that’s the nature of the draft across the NFL. That’s what makes it so fun. A lot of teams dump many millions into their front office and prospect evaluations every year and fail miserably.
Joe looks at the 2026 Bucs draft and it’s hard not to drool. Staying calm is difficult when you watch first-round pick Miami Mauler edge rusher Rueben Bain practice, along with inside linebacker Josiah Trotter (Round 2) and crazy-talented receiver Ted Hurst (Round 3). They all have looked like studs this summer.
And it’s not just Joe.
Former Jets assistant linebackers coach and personnel director Pat Kirwan has been blown away by Bain and Trotter. He was at Bucs practice this week with his SiriusXM NFL Radio sidekick Jacob Hester, the former NFL tight end.
Kirwan and Hester think Trotter, the No. 46 overall draft pick, is destined for the NFL’s all-rookie team, along with Bain.
“[Trotter] in a high pressure scheme of defense where they’re trying to win on defense and not trying to just bend, don’t break. They are trying to attack you,” Kirwan said. “I think it’s perfect for him and to be next to Alex [Anzalone] until they pass the torch. … He is going to be given the opportunity to succeed early.”
The Joe typing here is crazy high on Hurst. He has all the raw receiver talent and tools of a legitimate first-round draft pick. Joe can’t wait to see how quickly Hurst progresses — and if the Bucs let him loose on the league in a hurry.
And don’t forget fourth-round nickel cornerback Keionte Scott.
All these guys will be on display tonight against the Chiefs.
August 22nd, 2026 at 12:24 pm
Would be super cool if all 4 of them have splash plays tonight!
August 22nd, 2026 at 12:34 pm
Trotter was Mic’d up for a joint practice with the Jets. The team released a video of it and it left me impressed. The energy/motor run hot as advertised, but more importantly he looked the opposite of lost press snap to whistle. Calling out plays, talkin plenty of junk, and communicate with the guys ahead of him.
Actually wish it vid was cut a little longer.
Scott damn near had a pick late against the Jets down on the GL, idk if it was over excitement or what, but it feels like he jumped a second too early to high point the pass. What I loved most tho, was how fast he whipped his head around to locate the ball. Far too often young CBs come into the league lacking that awareness via tendency. They end up face guarding w/no idea where the pass is coming from.
August 22nd, 2026 at 12:42 pm
We’ll look back at this draft as one that was elite.
Now we need to find an offensive HC and franchise qb and sky’s the limit.
August 22nd, 2026 at 12:51 pm
I think everyone is afraid to say it, but there is not going to be much of a drop off from Mike Evans to Hurst. This kid might has have the reach or savvy of Evans but he makes it up in other areas such as his speed and the ability to play almost every WR position.
August 22nd, 2026 at 12:55 pm
Many great shooters on the range , but are they good when the targets are moving and shooting back?
Let you know after we face Burrow and the Bengals in the opener.
August 22nd, 2026 at 1:00 pm
I’m looking forward to the game! Let’s see what you rookies bring!!!
August 22nd, 2026 at 1:01 pm
I was surprised more weren’t talking about him before the Draft. Outside of JRod, he was the guy at ILB I wanted the most (not Anthony Hill Jr. Like so man on here). I had been hoping – if not trading up for Sonny Styles – that we got Mesidor, Trotter and Scott in thf Draft all offseason leading up to it…. I just lucked out and got an even better Christmas present with Bain Jr falling into our laps.
I really think the play style and attitudes and pedigree of all 3 are gonna end up having huge impacts and/or be part of the core of this defense for years to come and at all levels of our defense. Way too early obviously, but it’s got that feel to it for me out the gate.
When you think of it, 2nd round Trotter with the pedigree might be to our ILB position what 2nd rounder AWJ with the pedigree is/was to our Safeties position. I’d like to see some similarities come to fruition there!
August 22nd, 2026 at 1:03 pm
Cant wait to watch them! And, yeah, Jason looks to have knocked it out of the park with another WR pick…..he and his scouts know how….cant hit on them all but try to hit on most.
August 22nd, 2026 at 1:11 pm
JL has averaged 4 starters out of the last 5 drafts in a row, I’m good with that
August 22nd, 2026 at 1:52 pm
“it’s easy to throw a darts (sic) at Licht’s work”’
yes – yes it is – that is why we need a new GM and HC
August 22nd, 2026 at 2:07 pm
Ready for 1-5 season start….LFG
August 22nd, 2026 at 2:17 pm
^ just get rid of yourself please, new name but same one
August 22nd, 2026 at 2:52 pm
I watched that Trotter video too. What impressed me was the six pack. As opposed to my potato sack.
August 22nd, 2026 at 2:58 pm
Don’t forget about the 5th round DT and 6th round TE. Both look to be nice depth additions. The DT is one big dude and the TE is gonna be a nice gunner on ST.
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:04 pm
Nothing like a healthy squad going into wk 1 ..Take it from there ,any given sunday…Go Bucs!
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:12 pm
Be nice to see Trotter come out with the starters instead of POS Dennis. Come on Todd, do the right thing.
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:23 pm
[First, no one is “paying Joe’s bills” but Joe. If that was the case, one of the Joe’s wouldn’t be living in a Hernando County house he bought for $80,000 and tooling around in an eight-year old pickup with 120,000 miles on it. Second, you just blew up your credibility by suggesting John Lynch has a better draft record than Jason Licht. By any objective measure, Lynch’s drafts have been horrendous. If Licht pulled some of the stunts Lynch has like trading three first-round picks for Trey Lance, Licht would be dragged down Dale Mabry from the stadium down to MacDill. Here’s some interesting reading for those who think just because John Lynch played for the Bucs he’s the next Bill Polian. In Baltimore they’re getting ready to run off DeCosta. This DeCosta is so much better than Licht, he’s got how many more rings than Licht? Oh, that’s right, DeCosta has never had a team in the Super Bowl. Veach? He’s so good he can’t find a receiver for a generational quarterback to throw to. Do some research dude before you come at Joe like that. — Joe]
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:29 pm
Draft is a couple years to tell. Hope it sell some tix before the Bowles Disaster season.
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Madman Max…Pathetic Fan. Can not stand the coming reality. Bowles strikes again. Face the facts as they come. Hope you do not go mad as the season begins with Bowles the Sideline Stiff in charge….Call back in a couple months.
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:51 pm
@Grover, that was for new guy “can we get rid-of-”
wasnt directed at you, just making sure you know lol
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:53 pm
Big JOE WITH THE SMACKDOWN!!!!
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:54 pm
Bengals Game is the tell. If we blast them it will set the tone. After the pre season hype I hope it comes to the top. . LFG. We have to win this game.
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:55 pm
OK Mad Max…All my comments are moderated…LFG and hope for best.
August 22nd, 2026 at 4:05 pm
Seeing people celebrating a draft before the players have played in a regular season game reminds of the Wolf from Pulp Fiction, and what he said when Jules started celebrating too early. IYKYK. Im excited to see Bain (and everyone else) but let’s see these men play in the supposed updated scheme from Bowles.
Would be nice to see some of them play tonight. Let’s see how scared the HC will be and if he’ll allow the football players to play football.
August 22nd, 2026 at 4:05 pm
^ you know it, and believe me, so many of us are tired of Todd….but lets try to turn the page and cut some slack this year and see how it plays out the first 3 games…..here’s to hoping, DRINK uP!
August 22nd, 2026 at 4:09 pm
Joe … ‘The Joe typing here is crazy high on Hurst. He has all the raw receiver talent and tools of a legitimate first-round draft pick. Joe can’t wait to see how quickly Hurst progresses’.
I’m with you 100% on Hurst Joe, and I’m really hoping that he can ‘stretch the field’ much the same as ME13 was always able to do. Bucs’ offense NEEDS a deep threat, and Hurst (along with Tez Johnson?) hopefully gives us that.
Having said that though, I took a look Baker’s deep throws from last season, but only focused on the first half of the season when we went 6-2 (in the thought that we had to be doing SOMETHING RIGHT). Turns out that in those 8 games, Baker threw deep 62 times and only completed 21 of them (33.9%), for 6 TDs. He was meh in 7-of-those-first-8 games; did great in the Seattle game on the deep throws, hitting on 6-of-9 of them for 1 TD. Extract that 1 game though, and Baker was 15-of-52 … 28.3% … in those other 7 games (5 of them wins). And BTW, in the loss to the Lions, Baker threw deep 13 times, and only connected on ONE.
So during our ‘good’ half of the 2025 season, Baker barely hit on one-third of his deep throws. And what literally jumped out at me in researching the plays for each game is how many throws went to Mike Evans. And more than that, how few connected. It was abysmal. And that was in the ‘good’ half of the season.
August 22nd, 2026 at 4:14 pm
HC Grover. “We have to win this game”. No we don’t. Not by any stretch. It’s nice to win opening day but certainly don’t have to win it. We could start out5-5 and still go 12-5. The NFL has too long of a season, but the fans won’t complain.
Hopefully, we can run the table, HC, but I’ll be great with finishing strong, and being healthy going into the playoffs.
August 22nd, 2026 at 4:16 pm
Keionte made one, almost, play against the 3rd team Jets. Sorry, but I need to see a lot more than that.
Trotter had one tackle and one assist against the Jets 2nd team. I expected more against that squad, so I’m not buying all the hype about Trotter yet. Maybe ‘Boom should be starting with Anzalone instead of SJD or Trotter? SVD is till ahead of Trotter on the depth chart! C’mon Trot, let’s see some plays against these Chiefs backups!