With the Bucs’ 2026 rookie class set to come together this weekend at the AdventHealth Training Center for rookie minicamp, the logistical matter of jersey numbers had to be taken care of. Now it has been, with Tampa Bay announcing jersey numbers for its 2026 draftees Tuesday afternoon.

Rueben Bain Jr.’s Number Announcement Comes With Great Fanfare

There was plenty of early talk among Buccaneer fans about first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. and whether he could get the No. 4 he wore at Miami from kicker Chase McLaughlin. But Bain made it clear during his introductory press conference that he didn’t care what number would be on his jersey.

Bucs OLB Rueben Bain and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell – Photo by IMAGN Images – Kirby Lee

“I’ve been told it’s already [taken], it’s busy right now. Honestly, it’s whatever they end up giving me,” Bain said. “I’m a little frugal, so all that buying the jersey stuff off people, I probably won’t do that. I’ll just take what they give me and go play some football.”

On Monday, the Bucs announced that Bain will wear No. 3, and considering that it’s a low, single-digit number, that should pair well with fellow outside linebacker and new running mate Yaya Diaby, who wears No. 0.

The No. 3 was last worn in red, white and pewter by inside linebacker Anthony Walker Jr., and it was Jordan Whitehead who made history before him by becoming the first defensive player in franchise history to wear the number.

Kickers Matt Bryant and Ryan Succop notably wore No. 3 in Tampa Bay, as did 2015 No. 1 overall pick and the franchise’s all-time leading passer, Jameis Winston.

Bucs’ Other Draft Picks Now Have Their Jersey Numbers, Too

After setting Rueben Bain Jr.’s number aside for its own announcement Monday afternoon, the Bucs released the numbers for the rest of their draft class about 24 hours later. A couple of them, however, had already been leaked over the past week.

Bucs second-round pick Josiah Trotter was the first new Buc to make his jersey number public, as he posted an edit of himself in a creamsicle uniform wearing the No. 45 last week. The Instagram account “numbersnfl” reported that as the rookie linebacker’s number as well.

Wayne Haddix was a Pro Bowler who wore No. 45 for the Bucs, but it’s fair to say the most notable No. 45 in Tampa Bay was Mr. “Get Live 45” himself, Devin White. The last inside linebacker selected by the Buccaneers before Day 3 of the draft, White helped the team win Super Bowl LV and made a Pro Bowl in 2021 before a rapid decline saw him leave town after his rookie contract was up.

The No. 45 was most recently worn in Tampa by inside linebacker Deion Jones.

There was some speculation about third-rounder Ted Hurst getting the No. 1 he wore during his final year at Georgia State, but that didn’t come to fruition. He will instead wear No. 17, which was last worn by fellow wide receiver Sterling Shepard after previously being worn by other fellow receivers in Russell Gage, Justin Watson, Arrelious Benn and Michael Spurlock.

Fourth-round pick Keionte Scott was another early leak, as he changed his profile picture on Instagram to an edit of himself wearing No. 22 for the Bucs. Like his former Miami teammate-turned-Bucs teammate Rueben Bain Jr., Scott was bound for a new jersey number due to his college number being occupied by a Buccaneer veteran.

Bucs DB Keionte Scott – Photo by IMAGN Images – Jerome Miron

No. 22 in Tampa Bay was last worn by Kindle Vildor, but it was most famously worn by the late Doug Martin, a two-time Pro Bowler.

Fifth-round pick DeMonte Capehart will wear No. 90, which last belonged to fellow defensive tackle Logan Hall. That number was worn most notably by Super Bowl LV champion and former Pro Bowler Jason Pierre-Paul.

The Bucs’ other fifth-round pick, Billy Schrauth, will don No. 75. Two-time Pro Bowl guard Davin Joseph famously wore No. 75 for Tampa Bay.

Finally, rounding out the Bucs’ 2026 draft class, sixth-round pick Bauer Sharp will be wearing No. 84. While wide receiver Joey Galloway wore in in the 2000s, that’s been a popular number among Tampa Bay tight ends in recent years. Tom Crabtree wore it in 2013 before Super Bowl LV champion Cameron Brate wore it from 2014-2022. Tanner Taula wore it in 2024, and now it’ll be Sharp’s number after he wore No. 10 at LSU in 2025.