Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

Licht said Hurst was initially slated for a learning role behind the deep Buccaneers wide receiver corps. However, he added that the rookie 22-year-old has “proven to us throughout camp, even OTAs, practice every day that he’s been very, very steady...it’s kind of evolved into okay, we can use him this year and he’s going to play a role.” Hurst has received generally positive reports out of training camp. With Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan continuing to deal with injuries throughout preseason, Hurst has gotten more opportunities and proven to the front office he can be used as a rookie. When Egbuka, McMillan, and Chris Godwin are all healthy, Hurst will have a tough time putting up fantasy-relevant production. However, given various active injuries and the injury history of the Bucs’ wide receiver room, he is certainly worth a late-round pick for fantasy purposes.

Egbuka was given a ringing “hopefully” response from Todd Bowles when asked if he’d play in Week 1. We’re not overly concerned just yet, but he’s going to need to practice at some point to play. Jalen McMillan (knee) also sat, though we’re not as concerned about him since he’s practiced on that knee injury.

Licht during a Wednesday presser said the Bucs were “on to Cincinnati” with the regular season less than two weeks away. Licht has called Mayfield a franchise quarterback, but has not offered the veteran a long-term deal ahead of the 2026 season. Mayfield could be on his way out of Tampa in 2027 unless the team decides to use the franchise tag on him. Mayfield ranks 11th out of 40 qualifying QBs in adjusted EPA per drop back since the start of the 2024 season, ahead of Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott, among others.

Stick was released by the Colts at the end of the preseason. He’ll be third on the depth chart to begin the year behind Baker Mayfield and Jalon Daniels.

The Buccaneers also waived QB Connor Bazelak, OLB Chris Braswell, LB John Bullock, TE Devin Culp, TE Kenny Fletcher Jr., OT Marshall Foerner, DL Josiah Green, WR Matthew Henry, OLB Yasir Holmes, OG Nash Hutmacher, WR Jha’Quan Jackson, LB Nick Jackson, DL Jayson Jones, G Elijah Klein, RB Barika Kpeenu, OG Henry Lutovsky, S Robert McDaniel, CB Roman Parodie, WR Dean Patterson IV, K B.T. Potter, OLB Jack Pyburn, WR Eric Rivers Jr., S J.J. Roberts, OT Paul Rubelt, C Ben Scott, DL Travis Shaw, RB Josh Williams, S Rashad Wisdom and LB LB Javin Wright. The Buccaneers released QB Jake Browning, LS Scott Daly and S Ifeatu Melifonwu. The Buccaneers placed CB Josh Hayes and WR David Sills V on injured reserve.

The 2024 second-round pick never fully caught on in Tampa and was buried on the depth chart, with the team’s selection of Reuben Bain in the first round effectively sealing his fate. Braswell is likely to draw interest in the open market and could catch on as a pass rush developmental depth piece in short order.

The contract comes fully guaranteed as Tucker gets the stability he was looking for this offseason after entering 2026 on a restricted free agent tender of $3.52 million. Tucker presumably sits third on the depth chart at running back for the Buccaneers after the addition of Kenny Gainwell, a situation he has grown accustomed to during his time in Tampa. The pay cut likely stands as a boost to starter Bucky Irving after numerous reports this offseason called for a potential three-way timeshare in the backfield, something that now appears less likely given current circumstances.

The undrafted free agent rookie led the NFL with four preseason sacks this year. He is a candidate to land on a practice squad somewhere, if not in Tampa Bay.

Williams had a strong camp and even played ahead of Sean Tucker in a preseason game, causing some reporters to speculate that he could make the team’s 53-man roster over Tucker. While he likely earned himself a spot on the team’s practice squad if he clears waivers, Tucker remains the team’s RB3 heading into the season.

Tampa Bay also waived/released WR Dean Patterson, WR Eric Rivers, DL Jayson Jones, S Rashad Wisdom, S Xavier Williams, S Rob McDaniel, and DT Josiah Green. A 2024 seventh-round pick, Culp appeared in 13 games last year. He only caught one ball, but it was a six-yard touchdown. He is expected to sign with the Bucs’ practice squad if he makes it through waivers.