Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick Two Players on Day Two of 2026 NFL Draft
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick Two Players on Day Two of 2026 NFL Draft
Introduction
On the second day of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose two players. They picked linebacker Josiah Trotter from Missouri at pick 48. They also picked wide receiver Ted Hurst from Georgia State at pick 84. These picks came after their first-round choice of edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. The team wanted to fill needs on offense and defense.
Main Body
The Buccaneers picked Josiah Trotter in the second round. He is a linebacker. He is 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds. He plays with a strong, physical style. He is smart about football. He can find the ball and stop runs. He will help the team's defense. But his pass coverage is not good. Some people thought he would be picked later. One analyst gave the pick a B- grade. But the team needed a player like him. The Buccaneers used their third-round pick on Ted Hurst. He is a wide receiver from Georgia State. He moved from a smaller school. He set a record for his school: he was the earliest draft pick in Georgia State history. He was the only player from his conference chosen in the draft. In college, he had two seasons with over 1,000 yards. He ran fast at the NFL Combine: 4.42 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He jumped far: 11 feet 3 inches. His athletic score was very high. Hurst is tall (6-foot-3.5) and fast. He can catch deep passes and run after the catch. But he played against weak teams. He did not run many different routes. He dropped more than 10% of passes. He needs to get better at beating defenders. One expert gave him a second-round grade, so the team got good value. But he needs time to develop. The team has other good receivers, so Hurst can learn slowly. The team's best receiver, Mike Evans, left to play for another team. The team kept Chris Godwin. The other receivers are young. Hurst will try to take Evans' old position. But he will need time.
Conclusion
The Buccaneers' picks show a plan. They chose Trotter to help the defense now. They chose Hurst to help the offense later. Trotter will play soon as a run stopper. Hurst needs more time to improve. Both picks fit the team's goals.
Vocabulary Learning
Sentence Learning
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Select Linebacker Josiah Trotter and Wide Receiver Ted Hurst on Day Two of 2026 NFL Draft
Introduction
On the second day of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made two selections: Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter at pick 48 and Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst at pick 84. These picks followed their first-round choice of edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. and were intended to address specific needs on both offense and defense.
Main Body
The selection of Trotter in the second round was meant to fill a major gap at linebacker. Trotter, who is 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, is known for his physical, aggressive playing style and high football intelligence. His ability to read plays and attack running lanes is considered a strength, and he is expected to work well with coverage-oriented linebacker Alex Anzalone. However, analysts pointed out that Trotter's coverage skills are not fully developed, a weakness that opposing offenses may take advantage of. Some evaluators had projected Trotter as a third-round prospect, leading to a grade of B- from one outlet. Nevertheless, the pick was seen as addressing a key need with a player whose style matches the team's defensive philosophy. In the third round, the Buccaneers selected Hurst, a wide receiver from Georgia State who transferred from Division II Valdosta State. Hurst set a program record as the earliest draft pick in Georgia State history, chosen 105 picks earlier than the previous record. He was the only Sun Belt Conference player selected in the 2026 draft, matching the conference's total from the previous year. Hurst's college production included two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, earning him first-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2025. His athletic testing at the NFL Combine was impressive: a 4.42-second 40-yard dash and an 11-foot-3 broad jump, resulting in a Relative Athletic Score of 9.90, which ranks among the top 50 wide receivers since 1987. Hurst's physical attributes—height (6-foot-3.5), length, and speed—make him a deep threat who can stretch defenses. He showed skill in tracking deep passes and creating yards after the catch. However, his competition level was low, and his route variety was limited, with a high number of slant routes. Analysts noted a drop rate of more than 10% and a need to improve his ability to get free from press coverage. Lance Zierlein of NFL Media gave Hurst a second-round grade, indicating value at pick 84, but described him as a player who needs development and may not see significant playing time until 2027. The Buccaneers' receiving group includes Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Tez Johnson, providing depth that allows for Hurst's slow integration. Hurst's selection comes after the departure of franchise wide receiver Mike Evans, who signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency after 12 seasons with Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers kept veteran Chris Godwin, but the rest of the receiver group consists of recent draft picks and younger players. Hurst is expected to take over the 'X' receiver role previously held by Evans, though his development timeline suggests a longer-term investment.
Conclusion
The Buccaneers' Day 2 selections show a strategy of addressing immediate defensive needs with Trotter while investing in high-potential offensive talent with Hurst. Trotter is expected to contribute early as a run-stopping linebacker, whereas Hurst will need time to improve his skills before taking on a larger role. Both picks align with the team's overall roster-building goals.
Vocabulary Learning
Sentence Learning
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Select Linebacker Josiah Trotter and Wide Receiver Ted Hurst on Day Two of 2026 NFL Draft
Introduction
On the second day of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made two selections: Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter at pick 48 and Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst at pick 84. These acquisitions followed their first-round choice of edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. and aimed to address specific roster needs on both sides of the ball.
Main Body
The selection of Trotter in the second round was intended to fill a significant vacancy at linebacker. Trotter, measuring 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, is characterized by his physical, downhill playing style and high football intelligence. His ability to diagnose plays and attack running lanes is considered a strength, and he is expected to complement coverage-oriented linebacker Alex Anzalone. However, analysts noted that Trotter's coverage skills remain underdeveloped, a deficiency that opposing offenses may exploit. Some evaluators projected Trotter as a third-round prospect, leading to a grade of B- from one outlet, though the pick was acknowledged as addressing a primary need with a player whose style aligns with the team's defensive philosophy. The Buccaneers used their third-round pick on Hurst, a wide receiver from Georgia State who transferred from Division II Valdosta State. Hurst set a program record as the earliest draft pick in Georgia State history, selected 105 picks earlier than the previous record. He was the sole Sun Belt Conference player chosen in the 2026 draft, matching the conference's output from the previous year. Hurst's collegiate production included consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, earning first-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2025. His athletic testing at the NFL Combine was notable: a 4.42-second 40-yard dash and an 11-foot-3 broad jump, contributing to a Relative Athletic Score of 9.90, ranking among the top 50 wide receivers since 1987. Hurst's physical attributes—height (6-foot-3.5), length, and speed—make him a vertical threat capable of stretching defenses. He demonstrated proficiency in tracking deep passes and creating yards after catch. However, his competition level was low, and his route tree was limited, with a high proportion of slant routes. Analysts noted a drop rate exceeding 10% and a need to improve his release package against press coverage. Lance Zierlein of NFL Media assigned Hurst a second-round grade, indicating value at pick 84, but described him as a developmental prospect who may not see significant snaps until 2027. The Buccaneers' receiving corps includes Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Tez Johnson, providing depth that allows for Hurst's gradual integration. Hurst's selection occurs in the context of the departure of franchise wide receiver Mike Evans, who signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency after 12 seasons with Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers retained veteran Chris Godwin, but the remainder of the receiver group consists of recent draft picks and younger players. Hurst is projected to assume the "X" receiver role previously occupied by Evans, though his development timeline suggests a longer-term investment.
Conclusion
The Buccaneers' Day 2 selections reflect a strategy of addressing immediate defensive needs with Trotter while investing in high-upside offensive talent with Hurst. Trotter is expected to contribute early as a run-stopping linebacker, whereas Hurst will require time to refine his skills before assuming a larger role. Both picks align with the team's broader roster construction objectives.