By The first look at the 2026 rookie class gave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers plenty of reasons for optimism this weekend at rookie minicamp.
While it’s easy to overreact in underwear football (shorts and helmets), several of the Buccaneer rookies showed off their athleticism, confidence, and energy.
The Buccaneers believe they are a team that can still contend for the NFC South title, while shedding age and getting younger in key areas. The early returns from this past weekend were encouraging.
First-round draft pick Rueben Bain Jr. was the biggest storyline, and he did not disappoint.
First, he showed up at camp wearing a Warren Sapp jersey. Bain Jr. and Sapp are very similar in their approach to the game, and both are from the University of Miami.
Head Coach Todd Bowles said BainJr. was in midseason form. He also talked about Bain Jr. paying respect to those who came before him.
“Obviously, he’s from Miami, so he’s going to be practicing in the heat, where a lot of the other guys are going to struggle adjusting to this weather. It didn’t bother him at all. He came in in great shape, ran around well, and picked up some things very well. He’s got an old soul, so to speak. He understands his lineage; he understands the guys that came before him. They’ve got a lot of great players down there at the University of Miami, as well as the high schools down there.”
Bain Jr, the first round draft pick from Miami, looked every bit ready for the rigors of the NFL season.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds, Bain Jr. flashed his explosiveness during position drills, showing off the motor and drive that made him one of the best pass rushers in college football this past fall.
During pass-rush work, he showed quick hands and a quick first step off the snap. Bain Jr. said he has a few goals and expectations during rookie camp.
“Establishing trust. Trusting my teammates. Showing why they picked me. Being the player, they had expectations for when they took me in the draft.”
Third-round pick, wide receiver Ted Hurst, gives the Bucs a true X receiver after Mike Evans went to San Francisco this offseason.
Hurst has good size, great speed, and a jumping/leaping ability to provide an instant threat downfield and in the red zone.
Hurst said in his opening press conference that he patterns his game after Tee Higgins, Justin Jefferson, and George Pickens.
Fourth-round pick Keionte Scott also turned some heads with his play. In college, Scott played a variety of defensive backfield positions and looked comfortable in those roles during rookie camp.
Todd Bowles has always valued versatility in the defensive backfield, and Keionte Scott fits the bill.
Scott is also a very good blitzer from his position and is a very physical player. He showed good instincts tracking the football, a problem for the Buccaneer secondary the last few years.
Two other rookies performed in Rookie Camp—QB Jalon Daniels from Kansas and WR Eric Rivers from Georgia Tech.
Daniels is a developmental project with significant upside. In his career at Kansas, he passed for 9,282 yards, 107 TDS, and 31 INTs.
If there was one clear standout from the weekend, it was Bain. His combination of size, power, and explosiveness immediately jumped out, and he carried himself like a future impact defender.
The Buccaneers also saw encouraging signs from defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart, tight end Bauer Sharp, and several young defensive backs already pushing for larger roles.
For a team hoping to extend its run atop the NFC South, the weekend offered a promising glimpse into what could become an important rookie class.
