Hurst has gone from a quality depth piece to a potential starter for the Buccaneers. That's been helped by an early August knee injury to Jalen McMillan. Asking Hurst, who was playing college football at Georgia State last fall, to leapfrog Egbuka or Godwin is mission impossible, but as long as McMillan is sidelined then Hurst could have an opportunity to lock down the No. 3 WR role as the X receiver in the Bucs passing game. Hurst is an early-declare wide receiver with prototypical NFL size and athleticism. He dominated work at Georgia State (32.9% receiving share) and has earned compliments from both quarterback Baker Mayfield and coach Todd Bowles for his rangy size, body control, quality speed and very good hands. As late-round dart throws go, Hurst is worthy in PPR leagues for however long McMillan is out. In rookie drafts, he should not be drafted before the start of Round 2.
Fantasy News
Buccaneers' Ted Hurst: Two grabs in starting role
Rotowire
Hurst brought in two of six targets for 19 yards in the Buccaneers' 24-16 preseason win over the Jets on Friday.
With Emeka Egbuka (toe), Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan (knee) all sitting out, Hurst worked as the Buccaneers' de facto No. 1 receiver on the night. The rookie third-round pick recorded his first catch for a seven-yard gain on the Buccaneers' second drive, and he added a 12-yard grab on Tampa Bay's third possession. Hurst was also targeted by Connor Bazelak on a goal-line slant on the final ball thrown his way, but the pass was a bit behind him and broken up. Hurst enters his rookie season with elevated expectations after an impressive two-year tenure at the D1 level, and both Godwin and McMillan's recent injury history suggests Hurst could see plenty of opportunity in his first NFL season.
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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.
