Charlie Campbell
Buccaneers Rookie Forecast 2026
Solid Starter
Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri – Round 2 
The linebacker play was a weakness for Tampa Bay in 2025, and that was before franchise great Lavonte David decided to retire. The Buccaneers signed veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone in free agency to help address the position, but still needed more help. They snatched up Trotter in the second round of the draft, and he could compete to start right away.
Trotter is a big, strong, and physical linebacker to man the middle of the defense. He was very good in run defense over the past couple of seasons, showing an ability to come downhill and bring down ball carriers near the line of scrimmage or behind the line. He will deliver some serious violence and physicality on the ball carrier, and has nice read-and-react skills. Trotter will need development in pass coverage for the NFL, but Anzalone is skilled in coverage, and Trotter can learn a lot from the veteran.
After some development, Trotter should become a solid starting middle linebacker for Tampa Bay, and he could be an asset in run defense early in his pro career. After getting some coaching and learning, Trotter should become a quality three-down starter for the Bucs.
2025: Emeka Egbuka, WR
2024: Chris Braswell, OLB
2023: Cody Mauch, G
2022: Logan Hall, DE
2021: Kyle Trask, QB
2020: Antoine Winfield Jr, S
2019: Mike Edwards, S
2018: Vita Vea, DT
2017: Chris Godwin, WR
2016: Roberto Aquayo, K
2015: Ali Marpet, G/C
2014: Mike Evans, WR
2013: Akeem Spence, DT
Most Likely To Bust
Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State – Round 3 
The Buccaneers have had some success drafting from smaller schools under general manager Jason Licht, and Hurst will be their next project. For the NFL, Hurst is a big receiver with speed to stretch defenses vertically. Hurst has easy, straight-line acceleration to stretch defenses vertically and challenge them downfield. With his big size, Hurst is dangerous on back shoulder throws and gives his quarterback a big target with a large catch radius. He glides through the secondary with long strides and is able to eat up ground quickly.
While Hurst is tall and weighs more than 200 pounds, he is not overly physical and could stand to get better on contested catches. Hurst is straight line after the catch and is not a physical runner to power through tacklers. He does not play up to his size after the catch, and could stand to get stronger in the lower body to be more imposing after the catch.
Hurst has upside and could develop with pro coaching and improving his body in a pro strength program. However, he is raw and needs development, and the NFL is not a patient league. Of the Bucs early-round picks, Hurst looks like the one who has the most bust potential.
2025: Jacob Parish, CB
2024: Tykee Smith, DB
2023: YaYa Diaby, DE
2022: Rachaad White, RB
2021: Robert Hainsey, OT
2020: Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB
2019: Sean Murphy-Bunting, CB
2018: Alex Cappa, G
2017: Justin Evans, S
2016: Noah Spence, DE
2015: Donovan Smith, OT
2014: Charles Sims, RB
2013: William Gholston, DE
Potential Boom Pick
Rueben Bain, DE, Miami – Round 1 
There were no projections of Bain falling to the 15th pick in the first round, but the shocking slide turned into great fortune for Tampa Bay. Bain was expected to go late in the top 10 or early teens, but he made it all the way to 15. Bain fills a big need as the Buccaneers were lacking a pass rush last season, and Bain could immediately contribute.
For the NFL, Bain is a physical defender at the point of attack and an excellent run defender. He is tough as nails and difficult to move in the ground game. He holds his gap well with the strength to work off blocks. With a quality lateral anchor and good leverage, offensive linemen struggle to move Bain. He routinely takes on and sheds blocks to get in on tackles that help produce quality down-and-distance situations. Bain has a steady motor and doesn’t quit on plays. With his strength, build, good fundamentals, and technique, Bain should be an asset as a run defender at the next level.
In the pass rush, Bain is a solid contributor but not a world beater that is going to be a mid-teens or 20 sack kind of defender like a Myles Garrett or T.J. Watt. While Bain is quick and has some speed to close, Bain is not ultra-fast with dominant speed rush off the edge. He has a powerful bull rush and some quickness out of his stance, but he has some stiffness and can struggle to dip his hips to redirect to the quarterback. As a rusher, he has the versatility to move inside and go against guards. In the pro ranks, Bain will probably never be a prolific sack artist, but he could be a really solid complement to good rushers around him.
Bain is versatile to line up on the edge or move inside to tackle as a three technique in the sub package. He is known to be a leader, a hard worker, and a tone setter. Bain is a tweener end/tackle, and that makes him have some limitations for the NFL and could limit his sack total as a pro.
With his versatility, Bain is a great fit in Todd Bowles defense to line up at a variety of spots. Bain will improve their physcality at the point of attack and contribute to setting a tough edge in the ground game. In the 2026 NFL Draft, Bain was one of the best value picks of the first round, and he has boom pick potential for Tampa Bay.
2025: Benjamin Morrison, CB
2024: Graham Barton, C
2023: Calijah Kancey, DT
2022: Luke Goedeke, G
2021: Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, DE
2020: Tristan Wirfs, RT
2019: Devin White, LB
2018: Ronald Jones, RB
2017: O.J. Howard, TE
2016: Vernon Hargreaves, CB
2015: Jameis Winston, QB
2014: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE
2013: Johnathan Banks, CB
Future Depth Player
DeMonte Capehart, DT, Clemson – Round 5 
The Buccaneers landed a nice value pick with Capehart in the fifth round. Tampa Bay signed veteran journeyman A’Shawn Robinson in free agency, but they need more depth behind Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey. Capehart could be nice rotational backup for many years to come. He is a big bear at the point of attack that eats up blocks and stuffs runs in the ground game. He also shows some ability to push in the pass rush to prevent quarterbacks from stepping up in the pocket. While Capehart may not have the interior rush ability to be a three-down starter, he could be a good rotational defender to help stop the run and keep Vea fresh. Capehart should become a solid rotational depth player for the Bucs.
2025: David Walker, DE
2024: Bucky Irving, RB
2023: Payne Durham, TE
2022: Cade Otton, TE
2021: Jaelon Darden, WR
2020: Tyler Johnson, WR
2019: Anthony Nelson, DE
2018: Justin Watson, WR
2017: Kendell Beckwith, LB
2016: Devante Bond, LB
2015: Kwon Alexander, LB
2014: Robert Herron, S
2013: Mike Glennon, QB
Walt
