Early pro comparison for Bucs rookie Ted Hurst ahead of training camp

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers added another intriguing weapon to their offense when they selected wide receiver Ted Hurst in the 2026 NFL Draft. While he entered the league as a Day 2 pick, his pro comparison suggests the Buccaneers may have landed a player capable of making a much bigger impact than his draft position indicates.

According to NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein, Hurst's pro comparison is former NFL wide receiver Gabe Davis.

Standing 6'4" with legitimate deep speed, Hurst possesses the size and athleticism to stretch the field while also winning in contested-catch situations. Like Davis coming out of UCF, Hurst isn't expected to be a volume target who catches double-digit passes every game. Instead, his value comes from creating explosive plays and making defenses pay for single coverage.

With Chris Godwin Jr, Jalen McMillan, and Emeka Egbuka expected to command plenty of attention underneath and across the middle of the field, Hurst has an opportunity to carve out a role as the offense's vertical threat. His ability to get behind defenses could give Baker Mayfield another explosive weapon capable of changing games with one catch.

Davis built his NFL career by using his physicality at the catch point and making difficult plays downfield.

Hurst showed similar traits throughout his college career, consistently using his frame to shield defenders while demonstrating strong ball tracking ability on deep throws. Like Davis entering the league, Hurst will need to become a more consistent route runner and show he can contribute beyond just vertical concepts. Refining those parts of his game will go a long way toward determining how quickly he earns a larger role in Tampa Bay's offense.

If Hurst develops into the type of receiver Gabe Davis became during his best seasons, the Buccaneers will have found another dangerous weapon for Baker Mayfield. For a team looking to add more explosiveness to its passing attack, Hurst's pro comparison suggests Tampa Bay may have found exactly the type of receiver it was searching for.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Early pro comparison for Bucs rookie Ted Hurst ahead of training camp