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! 😉
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 doesn’t grade a draft until after their first season.
I get a kick out of the Jets getting an A…..,they had 3 1st round picks….duhh!!!
May 2nd, 2026 at 7:31 pm
He’s like Otton if Otton was a really good blocker and was fast….
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 we’re 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. He’s 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.”