Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

Smith spent eight seasons with the Buccaneers, who drafted him in the 2015 NFL Draft’s second round, before signing a one-year deal with the Chiefs back in 2023. He has not played since that season. In 2020, Smith’s Buccaneers defeated the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV and in 2023, his Chiefs defeated the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. Smith was also named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2015. He earned more than $66.6 million over the course of his career.

Rivers (5’10”/176) started his college career in 2021 as a walk-on defensive back at Memphis and didn’t play his first snaps as a receiver until 2023, when he transferred to FIU. During his 2024 season at FIU, Rivers broke out for 62-1,166-12 while averaging an impressive 18.8 YPR and 6.8 yards after the catch. He blazed a 4.35 40-yard dash at the combine and played 79.2 percent of his career snaps on the outside, but Rivers doesn’t have the size of a prototypical outside receiver, and could be better suited as a slot receiver if he hopes to stick in the league for the long term. If he does move from a field-stretching role into more of a slot receiver role, Rivers will need to show he can learn the ropes on the fly in hopes of making the 53-man roster. Fortunately for him, he also added punt returner to his resumé last season, returning nine punts for 99 yards last season at Georgia Tech. Rivers will likely try his hand at special teams in training camp in hopes of increasing his chances of making the roster.

Pyburn (6'4/258) played as a reserve at Florida for his first two years in college, and then got a chance to start in 2024 before transferring to LSU for his final year. He was relatively productive in that 2025 campaign, finishing with 52 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss with two of those sacks. The latter is the biggest concern going forward as he hasn’t shown much ability to get to the quarterback, but Pyburn been stout in the run game. He bounces off blockers to make plays behind the line of scrimmage in that regard. Pyburn projects as a special teams contributor who will need to show more playmaking ability off the edge to garner consistent playing time.

Daniels (6’1”/219) spent six years in college and started seven games as a true freshman for the Jayhawks in 2020. The dual-threat QB who amassed 1,445 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns at Kansas has an inconsistent production profile, throwing for 20-plus touchdowns just once in his career and completing only 61.5 percent of his passes. Daniels’ ability to escape defenders with his legs doesn’t make up for his inadequacies as a passer, and his accuracy and decision-making are both major question marks at the next level. Daniels benefited from a higher rate of RPO plays (20.3 percent, per TruMedia) in his final season, but he won’t benefit from those easier reads in the pros. His athleticism (4.65 40-yard dash) may warrant a further look in camp, but Daniels faces an uphill battle to make a 53-man roster.

Starting his career at Southeastern Louisiana, Sharp (6’5/249) was initially a quarterback before transitioning to tight end. He transferred to Oklahoma for 2024, then to LSU for 2025 to finish his college career with 24 receptions for 252 yards and two touchdowns. Low volume receiving production, combined with average size and athleticism for the position, gives Sharp a low ceiling and a limited body of work heading into the NFL. However, the Athletic’s Dane Brugler explains Sharp’s “special teams experience and alignment versatility give him a shot to earn an NFL roster spot.” Sharp can certainly find himself competing for a spot in the Bucs’ tight end room in training camp.

Capehart (6’5/313) is a traits-based interior defender whose 9.96 RAS (elite speed/explosion) jumps off the page, pairing a 4.85 40 (96th percentile) with a 33.5” vertical (95th percentile) to create a high-end movement profile. Despite modest raw production (24 tackles, 4.0 havoc plays, 2.0 TFL, one sack), Capehart’s tape reflects a disruptive presence, converting his burst and heavy hands into backfield penetration that doesn’t always show up in the box score. He plays with plus length and leverage, consistently anchoring versus the run (91.7 percent run tackle rate, 92.3 percent tackle efficiency) while stacking and shedding to generate eight run stops in a rotational role. Capehart’s game is built on power and first-step quickness, flashing the ability to forklift blockers and collapse pockets when singled, but his pass-rush plan remains underdeveloped and overly reliant on bull-rush momentum. He can win early in reps with explosiveness, yet struggles to counter once initial contact is stalled, leading to uneven down-to-down consistency. Capehart projects as a high-upside rotational three-technique with starter traits, whose elite testing profile and flashes of disruption make him an intriguing developmental bet.

Scott (5’10/193) is an attacking nickel defender whose 2025 breakout (89.6 overall grade, 91.2 run defense, 87.1 coverage) showcased his ability to impact the game in multiple phases. He logged 756 snaps with 20 pressures (5 sacks, 9 hurries) and 36 defensive stops, underscoring his blitz timing and downhill trigger as a subpackage weapon. In coverage, Scott allowed 39 catches on 56 targets (69.6 percent) for 332 yards with 214 yards after catch, illustrating a volatile profile that mixes disruption with susceptibility underneath. His tackling production (51 tackles, 15 misses, 20.3 percent miss rate) reflects his high-speed play style, where aggression can lead to both splash plays and open-field breakdowns. Scott’s 8.97 RAS is driven by elite speed (4.33 forty, 2.39 split), giving him the burst to close windows and stress protections as a blitzer. He projects as a scheme-specific nickel/STAR defender whose value hinges on leveraging his pressure ability and pursuit speed while insulating him from extended man coverage reps against size.

Hurst (6’4/206) was a zero-star recruit coming out of high school. He cut his teeth at Valdosta State for two years before joining Georgia State via the transfer portal. Hurst was purely a burner in his first season, averaging 17.2 yards per catch with an identical average target depth. He parlayed this role into a team-high 961 yards and nine scores. After realizing what they had in Hurst, his coaches made the passing attack revolve around him in 2025. Hurst’s aDOT dropped to a more normal 12.6 and he pushed his receiving total to 1,004 yards on 71 grabs. Hurst is a physical receiver at the catch point and his 4.42 40-yard dash shows up on tape, but the jump from Sun Belt competition to the NFL will be a true test of his abilities. He will likely begin his career as a backup Z receiver, though a starting role down the road should be the expectation.

Trotter (6’2/237) produced like a classic downhill MIKE, logging 89 tackles with 10.5 TFLs, 13 run stops and 11 havoc plays while anchoring the front with a 65.9 percent run-tackle share. His 89.0 percent tackle rate reflects a controlled, square finisher who consistently arrives with leverage and balance in tight quarters. Trotter adds real blitz value, generating nine pressures on just 53 rushes (17.0 percent pressure rate) with two sacks and three sacks created, showing urgency and timing attacking interior gaps. He plays with a diagnostic trigger versus the run, quickly keying blocking schemes and leveraging his frame to slip or shock blockers despite not being an overwhelming athlete. However, Trotter’s profile flips in coverage, where inconsistent route recognition and delayed processing leave him vulnerable to backs and tight ends on dynamic patterns. He projects as an early-down run-stopping linebacker with subpackage blitz utility, whose path to a three-down role will hinge on improving spatial awareness and anticipation in coverage.

Tampa could use a versatile pass rusher after ranking dead last in QB pressure rate last season. Bain Jr. (6’2/263) put together a complete, high-impact season as the centerpiece of Miami’s front, finishing with 46 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks while posting an elite 90.9% tackle rate. His 21 havoc plays made him one of the most disruptive defenders in the nation, as evidenced by his 79.3% run-tackle rate and eight credited run stops. As a pass rusher, Bain generated a staggering 80 total pressures, good for a sterling 13.1% pressure rate, while creating 10 sacks overall and forcing a fumble in the process. He consistently won early in downs, recording a first pressure on 45 snaps with an average time-to-pressure of 2.71 seconds, underscoring his explosiveness off the ball. While he didn’t test at the Combine, much debate was had about his 30 ⅞” arms that are the third-shortest ever recorded for an EDGE player. Taken together, Bain’s profile reflects a tenacious, every-down defensive end who combined power, effort, and finishing ability to anchor one of the nation’s most stingy defensive fronts.