Four Rookies Bucs Know They Can Count On After Mandatory Minicamp
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers can check off another group activity on their offseason to-do list, as they wrapped up mandatory minicamp a day early this week.
Facing a make-or-break 2026 campaign for head coach Todd Bowles and company after last year's epic collapse down the stretch, the Bucs need their 2026 NFL Draft class to deliver on both sides of the ball. Thankfully, the early returns look good for Tampa Bay's top rookies, something that was on full display throughout this week's minicamp action.
Here are four of the Bucs' draft picks who already look like instant-impact players they can rely on this season:
OLB Rueben Bain Jr.
Just about everyone in the NFL world was shocked when Bain fell all the way to the Bucs at the No. 15 overall pick, giving them the exact player they needed to fill the biggest hole on their roster. It's only offseason workouts, but so far, Bain has been as advertised in terms of his skill set and approach to the game, bringing power and violence to every rep.
Bain will not only bring a ton of juice to Tampa Bay's lackluster pass rush, but he should also unlock the full potential of the rest of their defensive front. Don't be surprised if Bain proves to be an impact player right away, while helping the entire unit to be more productive when it comes to rushing the passer.
WR Ted Hurst III
After losing future Hall of Famer Mike Evans in free agency, the Bucs still had plenty of talent at the wide receiver position, but they needed to add more size to the room. They did just that with Hurst, a third-round pick out of Georgia State, who brings an impressive combination of size, speed, and explosiveness to the table.
Hurst has wasted little time showing off those promising physical traits during minicamp, impressing in positional drills as well as team periods, and drawing praise from his new teammates. Even with more experienced pass-catchers ahead of him, Hurst brings valuable traits to the table, and it'll be hard for new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to keep him off the field this season.
LB Josiah Trotter
The Bucs added a quality veteran in free agency with Alex Anzalone to help alleviate the loss of Lavonte David, a future Hall of Famer who retired this offseason. But they still needed to raise the ceiling at the position for the future, which led them to draft Trotter, the son of a Pro Bowl linebacker, in the second round out of Missouri.
Early indications are that Trotter is the front-runner to line up next to Anzalone as the other starter at inside linebacker, and his hard-hitting style of play will be a huge boost to their run defense. He's also a valuable pass-rushing weapon in blitz packages, something Todd Bowles will certainly put to good use early and often.
TE Bauer Sharp
Even after signing Cade Otton to a new three-year contract extension, the Bucs still packaged their final two picks in the 2026 NFL Draft to move up in the sixth round for Sharp. Sparsely used as a pass-catching weapon at LSU, Sharp's value to Tampa Bay's offensive attack is clear as a blocker, but his size and athleticism gives him untapped value as a receiver.
That potential was on display at minicamp, with Sharp hauling in at least one touchdown catch during practice. The Tigers may not have needed Sharp to catch the ball much, but it looks like the Bucs might be willing to unlock another level to his game. His blocking chops will be valuable in multiple-TE sets, but Tampa Bay might have a steal on their hands if Sharp can grow into a bigger role in the passing game.
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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 3:13 PM.