Bain A+
Trotter D+
Hurst C-
Picks 2 and 3 HAVE TO HIT or Licht looks dumb as fuck passing on Allen and Pregnon to reach on players.
Scott B+
Capehart B
Schrauth B
Sharp F because he traded up for a UDFA
I don’t pretend to know anything about Bauer Sharp, but reading Dane Brugler’s write up on his grading of Sharp (the part that may give a key to what Licht was thinking): he’s a violent blocker, and he has a lot of alignment versatility. We didn’t replace Raschad White’s ability in the run-blocking scheme, maybe they’re thinking of an H-back alignment benefit? He apparently has some ST experience - don’t know what that hints at, but as someone pointed out, they didn’t waste a 7th rounder on Tez…so they have some plan to test out on Sharp.
Cant imagine it was a throw away pick, as they traded up to near the top 6th round for a player who had a 7th round grade?
It will be a mild curiosity (for me) to see what they were thinking for this kid. After all, we saw Tez’s value immediately.
I don’t pretend to know anything about Bauer Sharp, but reading Dane Brugler’s write up on his grading of Sharp (the part that may give a key to what Licht was thinking): he’s a violent blocker, and he has a lot of alignment versatility. We didn’t replace Raschad White’s ability in the run-blocking scheme, maybe they’re thinking of an H-back alignment benefit? He apparently has some ST experience - don’t know what that hints at, but as someone pointed out, they didn’t waste a 7th rounder on Tez…so they have some plan to test out on Sharp.
Cant imagine it was a throw away pick, as they traded up to near the top 6th round for a player who had a 7th round grade?
It will be a mild curiosity (for me) to see what they were thinking for this kid. After all, we saw Tez’s value immediately.
Tez dropped. He should have gone round 5 or 6.
Sharp is a UDFA grade. He could have easily been there in the 7th and if not, who cares?
Nuss was a better pick and now he's a chief.
Eagles signed Lawson as UDFA. Would have been a good late pick.
Zavian Harris DT. Did anyone sign him?
Hemby RB out of Indiana
World OT Oregon
All good pickups in the 6th, 7th or UDFA.
I have seen several write-ups related to the Bucs draft grade and all of them indicate to me that no one truly looked at what the Bucs did with this 6th pick. The guy was 270th in the draft class. On average about 246 players are drafted annually. No way in hell he was getting drafted. All the talking heads can say the same thing but he was 270 for a reason....and the reason is he isn't a very good player. Everybody talking about his blocking ability. Are those same people going to keep their collective mouths shut if he finds a way onto the team and starts to draw all the penalties for holding and chop blocking because that is what he was in college. NFL.com has him rated at a 5.67 (that means the likelihood of him being on an NFL roster are very low) but the telling things about him are his weaknesses:
- Below-average arm length and core strength.
- Beaten to the punch on a fairly consistent basis.
- Struggles to prevent being discarded by NFL-caliber talent.
- Fights throws with below-average hands as a pass-catcher.
- Route tells allow coverage to jump his breaks.
- Ball security after the catch is a concern.
This was a garbage pick.
I think Trotter was a reach, but I will wait to see if I am wrong. I would think Goldway would have been a better choice if they wanted a run-stuffing LBer.
I think Trotter was a reach, but I will wait to see if I am wrong. I would think Goldway would have been a better choice if they wanted a run-stuffing LBer.
Everything I've seen on Trotter indicates he's unpolished, and would have been there in the third.
I also read that Licht has connections to Trotter senior and that played a factor. If so, 🤢
All very subjective, but NFL.com has us tied with the panthers (A-) for top draft in the division:
"Tampa Bay was giddy to find Bain still waiting in the green room in the middle of the first round. He should be one of the top defenders in the draft class, wreaking havoc inside and outside in the Buccaneers' defensive system. Trotter was picked earlier than I figured he'd be, but he's a strong, run-stuffing middle linebacker who can help make up for the retirement of Lavonte David. Hurst isn't a physical specimen like former Bucs receiver Mike Evans, but he can contribute as a rookie because of his strong hands and ability to separate off the snap and downfield."
"Scott's inability to fit every team's scheme might have cost him draft position, but Tampa Bay could use the versatile defender at nickel or safety, or as a physical outside corner. Capehart was a fine value as a run-stuffing DT in Round 5. Schrauth would likely have been a Day 2 pick if he hadn't missed time last season with a knee injury; he's a beast inside who should start this year or next. The Bucs were smart to wait on tight end until late, when they picked up Sharp."
The one that stands out:
Schrauth - should have been "Day 2" but for knee injury (MCL sprain) . . "beast" . . "start this year or next."
another take:
"What you have with Schrauth is a guard who protects the passer at a legitimately high level and whose technique in that phase of the game is among the cleanest in this class. His 2025 tape, limited as it was to seven games, showed meaningful growth over what he put on film in 2024. The pass blocking numbers were outstanding. The feet, the hands, the anchor, the processing speed against pressure looks. All of it ticked boxes."
I also read that Licht has connections to Trotter senior and that played a factor. If so, 🤢
Or, he’s literally Todd’s wet dream of a linebacker.
Again, you’re taking crazy pills if you don’t think he was pounding the table for this kid.
An accurate grade on this draft won't be known until 3 years after the draft.
An accurate grade on this draft won't be known until 3 years after the draft.
Sadly, with where the team is right now, we may never get an accurate grade on these guys. GM and Coaching changes that are likely next season will cause them all to be expendable if they don't fit the new system.
GM and Coaching changes that are likely next season will cause them all to be expendable if they don't fit the new system.
This is why I posted before that keeping Bowles was sort of a strange half-measure. Win or lose in 2026, the offseason has so far been 100% support for Bowles' vision on defense . . right down to Trotter at LB, Scott at CB. They are 100% what Bowles described as the fix:
Bigger, meaner, better against the run.
Their problem last year though was as much short passing to TEs and RBs. Their fix for that so far is 32 year old Anzalone? Maybe Scott? And they are relying heavily on McCollum returning to form and Morrison staying healthy and playing better?
An accurate grade on this draft won't be known until 3 years after the draft.
There's the initial grade then the actual grade
An accurate grade on this draft won't be known until 3 years after the draft.
It's fair to grade where these guys went as prospects. I mean, if a dude is drafted in R2 that the rest of the football world had as a seventh round grade, it's fair to call that a reach.
But yes, grading them as pros will take some time.