Baker Mayfield Makes A Mike Evans-Ted Hurst Comparison
August 18th, 2026
Rookie receiver Ted Hurst (left).
Joe has not hidden being almost-crazy excited about Ted Hurst.
The rookie receiver is dripping with talent and has been consistently looking dangerous in training camp.
And Joe is not talking about “dangerous” as in SirVocea Dennis in coverage or for Bucs safety Sabby The Goat Piscitelli taking a tackling angle.
Hurst has strong hands, great body control, good speed and a way of making difficult catches look easy. Joe’s also been told his YAC (yards after catch) is damn special and will open eyes when it’s shown.
Today, Joe asked Baker Mayfield how he looks at Hurst after two consecutive seasons of special rookie receivers: Jalen McMillan (8 touchdowns as a rookie) and Emeka Egbuka.
“Ted is, I mean he’s growing quickly,” Mayfield said. “He’s picking things up really fast, and so that’s good for us. It’s allowing him to play fast, not think and just use his size and speed. You guys have seen it – he’s high-pointing the ball, really taking advantage of his 1-on-1 matchups, just contested catches, things like that. When you’re a bigger receiver at 6-4, you want to be a safety blanket for those 50-50 balls. So I feel really confident where Ted is at.”
Asked about Hurst in the red zone, Mayfield dropped a Mike Evans comparison.
“We talk about how would we look at it with Mike down in the red zone; if you’re not going to double-cover him, we’re going to throw it to him,” Mayfield said of Hurst. “And Ted is growing into his own right now; so we’re going to try and take advantage of those matchups as well.”
For 12 seasons, it seemed to be a given. If Evans was singled covered in the red zone, the Bucs quarterback went his way. It was a sound strategy.
Last week in a 1-on-1 sitdown with Joe, Todd Bowles noted how Hurst can make contested catches with the best in the game.
Is it Week 1 yet?
August 18th, 2026 at 4:08 pm
Putting an awful lot on a kid that should have held onto a TD pass in the end zone against Jets, but didn’t.
August 18th, 2026 at 4:13 pm
Pass was thrown behind him which allowed the defender to break it up.
August 18th, 2026 at 4:15 pm
Joe, Joe’s-self, has repeatedly stated it’s a bad idea to get hyped for a rookie.
Joe should listen to this podcast I’m aware of and tend to like more tah the others.: The Ira Kaufman Podcast.
August 18th, 2026 at 4:16 pm
Let’s just be happy it happened in the preseason and not in the regular season like Jmac and CGod early in his career
August 18th, 2026 at 4:27 pm
You guys taking about not putting too much on a rookie are soft as twinkie filling.
You don’t realize that superstars want to be the man asap.
Hurst is used to bring the main go-to guy and he will assume that role here very quickly.
August 18th, 2026 at 4:28 pm
*talking
August 18th, 2026 at 4:31 pm
I’m rooting for the kid.
August 18th, 2026 at 4:35 pm
Winners want the ball in their hands.
August 18th, 2026 at 4:35 pm
WR1. Day 1.
August 18th, 2026 at 4:37 pm
Meanwhile, Evans left Niners practice again today, this time with “tightness.”
August 18th, 2026 at 4:43 pm
No stories on St. Mike’s latest soft tissue injury that pulled him out of practice today after being out the last 2 weeks?
August 18th, 2026 at 4:44 pm
Ted Hurst is on a first year rookie contract which is dramatically lower than Mike Evans contract. That savings could go to Mayfield or Vita Vea to keep them in Tampa. Hurst is not Evans but his six foot 4 inch height will still create opportunities and end zone points for the Bucs.
Potentially the Bucs wide receiver room could be the X factor. It would be fun to imagine what a Tom Brady could do with this Buc offense. If Mayfield leads the Bucs to a Super Bowl win his contract money 💰 could pay him a top Five salary 🤔
August 18th, 2026 at 4:55 pm
We used to have a 3rd & Ike around these parts…..now we may have a Red & Ted (Red Zone is Ted Zone)!
August 18th, 2026 at 5:05 pm
I think someone should say Hurst reminds them of Evans except without the constant hammy. F Evans. Love the guy. He doesn’t want to be a Buc then good for him. Good luck. He signs a one week retirement contract I’ll root for him. Other than that he’s just a 49er.
August 18th, 2026 at 5:05 pm
Mike Evans had his left ankle/foot wrapped and iced before the session came to an end.
August 18th, 2026 at 5:10 pm
^^^^^^
from the above photo, he looks like no mike evans…
he looks small in this particular flick…
as mike evans would look much bigger when standing next to emeka egg-boo-kah
August 18th, 2026 at 5:16 pm
I hope the comparisons end there…. Evans body is breaking down, different injury everyday…. still giving his over under at 7 games.
August 18th, 2026 at 5:17 pm
mike came in at 241 in his younger years and got away with that weight for quite some time…
but midway thru his tenure here, he slimmed down and operated at a sleek 225-230, if i’m correct…
he was navigating the potential of losing a step, as a bigger guy, with healthier principals and a slimmer look for more speed…
and it def did work…
it’s fine and dandy to keep comparing hurst to mike…but let’s let each live in their own skin…
hurst looks good…real good
“you warriors are good, real good”………said cyrus 🙂
August 18th, 2026 at 5:21 pm
I doubt we’ll see Hurst reach his full potential until 2027, but if he works to get great at route-running, builds great chemistry with Baker, and masters the playbook, the sky’s the limit!
I’ll bet we see enough this season, though, to make 25 other teams regret passing him up in the draft.
August 18th, 2026 at 5:24 pm
Don’t like to compare….not fair to Hurst……..ME13 1st round pick HOF first ballot…..
Let the kid establish himself….
August 18th, 2026 at 5:32 pm
Sell thoe Tix before the season starts.
August 18th, 2026 at 5:35 pm
Todd Says:
August 18th, 2026 at 4:08 pm
Putting an awful lot on a kid that should have held onto a TD pass in the end zone against Jets, but didn’t.
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Exactly, I don’t want to hear how “strong” his hands are when I just watched him “Otton” a TD. Let the kid grow naturally into becoming a pro. Everyone has to be a HOF right out of the gate.
The pass was behind Hurst and gift wrapped for the defender to punch out. –Joe
August 18th, 2026 at 5:35 pm
Bake is trying to sell tix. He deserves a cut.
August 18th, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Todd please. The DB had a hand in that play, because the ball was thrown so far behind him. Lucky it wasn’t picked.