Bauer Sharp Fighting For A Roster Spot
August 18th, 2026
Tight ends Ko Kieft, left, and Bauer Sharp lock horns during drills this month.
If you just judge a guy by how many times he makes a play in practice, sixth-round pick Bauer Sharp out of LSU would make the Bucs’ roster.
Every practice Joe swears Sharp make a play, including rookie minicamp. It may not be an explosive play, but he’s making them, often on the second-team offense.
Meanwhile, fellow tight end Devin Culp may make a play a week, mired on the third-team offense.
The thing about Bauer is the Bucs brought him to town to first play special teams. In his first game wearing a Bucs uniform, Bauer on Friday night had two special teams tackles. Mind you, cornerback Josh Hayes, who led the Bucs last year in special teams tackles, had 13 in 17 games.
Bauer is more than a special teams player. He doesn’t have bad hands and he’s a willing blocker.
After practice yesterday, Joe asked Bauer what his mentality is about training camp. Is he trying to make the team as a tight end? Is he OK with just being a special teams warrior?
Bauer said his mentality is simple.
“It’s honestly whatever Coach has me do each play,” Bauer said. “Block for my running back? Block for my receivers? Go make a play for my QB? Or go down and make a tackle.
“That’s kind of my mindset. It’s kind of my life’s motto. That’s what I go by.”
As far as his two tackles Friday night on special teams in New Jersey, Bauer said, “I love it. I think tackling is one of the funnest things in football.”
Of course, Bauer confessed his love of tackling is a little payback to opponents for tackling him as a tight end.
“I don’t do it much but I’ve been working hard all offseason to do it,” Bauer said. “I was on special teams last year at LSU. I’ve had more success here.”
As for Bauer getting so many snaps each day, often with the second team and occasionally the first team, Bauer said he’s not worried about when he gets snaps, so long as he is getting snaps.
“I don’t care,” Bauer said. “Third team, fourth team, first team. I’m just doing what they ask me. It doesn’t matter when they ask me.
“[Whatever] they ask me, I’m doing it.”
Special teams is the key for Bauer. Joe isn’t sure Culp, who Bauer likely battling for a roster spot, is much of a special teams player, though he did log his fair share of snaps on there last year.
Bauer sticks out on special teams. And as an NFL general manager told Joe a long time ago, if you are not starting, you better be able to play special teams or you are an endangered species.
August 18th, 2026 at 12:45 am
Came back from the drop and catch/fumble with 2 nice catches. Whiffed on the WR hitch and luckily caught the pop up that resulted from it. I do see him making the team and being TE3 immediately. Hoping ZRob throws the ball to Durham more than Grizz did to pick up where Coen left off developing him. Cade will again be Cade(solid). I think TEs1,2,3,4 will all be a strength for us. Looking forward to our aerial attack at RB/TE/WRs this year.
August 18th, 2026 at 12:54 am
So how many TEs are the Bucs going to have on their 53 man roster: Otten and Durham are givens, then two of the following: Kieft, Culp, Bauer and Kenny Fletcher? You’d think Bauer has a good chance of making the roster if he can play special teams, else say hello to the practice squad.
August 18th, 2026 at 1:26 am
Why does Joe call this player by his first name? 🤔
August 18th, 2026 at 1:31 am
Sharp is 100% making this team. Not only has he stood out all summer by most accounts, but Culp is as good as gone and has done little to save his job. Kieft is a great blocker and decent teams player but does little in the pass game. Durham, it seems, is JAG. I wouldn’t be surprised is Sharp is the #2 TE by the bye week and is getting some decent PT.
August 18th, 2026 at 1:56 am
@ Brian , don’t disagree but don’t think you realize how good of blockers Keift and Durham both are. Sharpe is better receiver than kieft but less of blocker. Not sure he is better than Durham in either, yet. Good problems for us to have this year. Same with Edge rushers. I like our depth there finally.
August 18th, 2026 at 3:14 am
OY, we’re on the same page here. KK is an outstanding blocker and we missed him greatly last year. PD holds his own as a blocker as well. Sharp seems to be decent as a blocker and will only get better but also brings an added dimension of being a better receiver than either of them. Going to be fun watching the deck get shuffled for sure, but I’m expecting good things.
August 18th, 2026 at 6:17 am
Culp is in the same category as Sean Tucker, intriguing potential but….
At the end of hoping they just are not Sunday material
August 18th, 2026 at 6:23 am
Good answers young man…. the perfect attitude for a late round rookie.
Bucs didn’t move up to draft the guy – only to cut him after he looks great all off season and training camp…
Sharp is not “fighting for a roster spot” – he’s already made the Bucs 53 man roster… and could very well see significant snaps this year on offense as well as special teams.
Josh Hayes – the team’s leading tackler on ST last year – may not (probably won’t) make the final cut this year.
With Killebrew, Bauer and Ko Keift pretty much assured roster spots – our special teams are in good shape – even without Hayes… If they do keep Hayes as well – all the better for Danny Smith to turn a sorry a$$ special teams unit last year into a top performing unit this year.
August 18th, 2026 at 6:48 am
All of Kieft, Durham, Sharp AND EVEN Culp had some really good blocks in the preseason game. Kieft was our highest scored player at PFF taking on defensive linemen and repeatedly winning.
August 18th, 2026 at 7:12 am
Sharp is just another guy , but nothing special.