Hurst won't likely be drafted in most redraft leagues unless he makes a lot of noise in training camp for Tampa Bay. Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin and potentially Jalen McMillan should all begin the year ahead of him on the depth chart. But Hurst is an early-declare wide receiver with prototypical NFL size and athleticism who had a 32.9% receiving share at Georgia State in 2025. He could beat out McMillan, and Godwin's health and age could provide even more opportunities as the year goes on. For now, view Hurst as a late-round dart throw in redraft. In rookie drafts, he should not be drafted before Round 3. If he starts getting buzz in camp, don't be shy about reacting to it.
Fantasy News
Buccaneers' Ted Hurst: Viewed as true X receiver
Rotowire
Speaking with the media Tuesday, new Bucs OC Zac Robinson said third-round rookie Hurst is viewed as a "true X" receiver in Tampa Bay, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Hurst has the size at 6-foot-4 and 206 pounds and the long-range speed (4.42-second forty) to run the downfield routes vacated by Mike Evans, who is one of this generation's prototypical X receivers. The Bucs used the 84th overall pick on Hurst, who likely would've gone sooner if he'd faced stiffer college competition instead of playing at Georgia State. Hurst drew some Nico Collins comparisons in the pre-draft process. His main competition for playing time in three-wide sets figures to be Jalen McMillan.
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Buccaneers' Ted Hurst: Picked by Tampa Bay
Rotowire
The Buccaneers selected Hurst in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 84th overall.
Hurst probably fell this far out of plain-old bias against small-school players, and if so the Buccaneers should consider themselves lucky that the Georgia State star fell to them in the third round. He's big at 6-foot-4, 206 pounds and has the long-range speed (4.42-second 40) to thrive as a downfield-oriented 'X' receiver. The Buccaneers lost Mike Evans this offseason, but Hurst really does pose a similar dynamic, comparing more closely yet to Nico Collins.
