In a method, scripting this story is a little bit of déjà vu.
It was at this actual time final 12 months that former NFL star large receiver Steve Smith Sr. analyzed the sport of the Bucs’ 2025 first-round decide, Emeka Egbuka. On the time, Egbuka’s match into the fold was initially fairly attention-grabbing, given the presence of veteran large receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. on the roster. The Ohio State product rapidly put these issues to relaxation by showcasing the traits Smith mentioned about his recreation, resembling his polished route-running, soccer intelligence, and reliability.
Flip the calendar over, and Smith talked very extremely of one other Tampa Bay draft decide — Ted Hurst.
Hurst was the staff’s 2026 third-round choice, taken with the intention to fill the void Evans left as a tall X large receiver who could be a issue on deep balls and close to the aim line. Smith was fast to dismiss that ability set being all that he can convey to the desk, although.
In reality, he in contrast him to a well-recognized and up to date NFL Corridor of Fame inductee.
Steve Smith Sr. On Ted Hurst: “The Kid Is Remarkable, Man”
After Emeka Egbuka fell into the Bucs lap within the 2025 NFL Draft, Ted Hurst adopted course and landed in Tampa Bay after the staff took him 84th total late final month. That got here after buying and selling down, with it trying like a shrewd transfer that paid off in buying an additional decide and nonetheless getting their man.
On the subject of Hurst, he was a small-school standout from Valdosta State who transferred to Georgia State and stayed loyal to this system. Regardless of preserving a low profile within the school ranks, he stood out at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Cell, Alabama.
One might need already seen this catch a number of (dozen) occasions however is price one other watch and speaks to what he additionally placed on movie.
“Watching his film is exceptional,” Steve Smith Sr. mentioned. “This is a kid who, to some degree, came out of nowhere, but he was able to solidify himself at the Senior Bowl.”
Hurst’s efficiency there in late January began to maneuver him up draft boards and supply a ground. Then on the 2026 NFL Scouting Mix the next month, his inventory continued to rise by working a 4.42 40-yard time. Given his bodily traits and skills, it was no shock that Smith spoke extremely of him whereas profiling his recreation in late March.
Bucs WR Ted Hurst – Picture by: IMAGN Pictures – Vasha Hunt
“The kid is remarkable, man,” Smith mentioned discussing Hurst’s separating and route-running skills. “He high-points the football, long strider. Goes up and gets the football, uses his hands. They moved him around a lot. The question was — what was he going to run in his 40? He runs a 4.42. Releases are crazy, I really love his releases and hand swipe, he’s a swimmer. I love how he swims, does a really good job getting off press coverage. He’s a big guy; he can go up and get it. Fights through contact, excellent route-runner, in my opinion.”
Throughout his two seasons at Georgia State, Hurst emerged because the star of this system.
Bucs WR Ted Hurst – Picture courtesy of Georgia State Athletics
Even with middling quarterback play at occasions, he recorded 56 receptions for 961 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2024. He adopted that up with 71 receptions for 1,004 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2025. Assessing and contextualizing his work, Smith sees somebody that may instantly present a jolt and have endurance in an NFL passing recreation.
“Out wide 83% this [past] season and his career,” Smith mentioned breaking down the place he lined up in school. “Within the slot solely 16% of the time for the 12 months… A number of the passes, a number of the eye was directed towards him. Whole targets 124, for the 12 months 71 receptions. Simply actually impressed with him. Solely 21% of his routes have been deep, 29% intermediate, 41% quick, after which behind the road of scrimmage 8%.
“Overall, I just see a lot of good things from him. I don’t think he gets enough credit because the type of competition he’s played against; some people are just checking the box off. I just love what he brings to the table. I think he’s going to shock some people when he gets into a good organization, and they keep refining exactly all the things that he brings to the table as of right now.”
Steve Smith Sr.’s Ted Hurst Comp Is “A Faster Larry Fitzgerald”
Essentially the most attention-grabbing tidbit from Steve Smith Sr. was who Ted Hurst reminded him of. Whereas Hurst went on report after being drafted that he fashions his recreation after Bengals large receiver Tee Higgins, Smith sees extra.
“My comp by watching him, just seeing him, I wrote down a faster Larry Fitzgerald,” Smith mentioned. “Catches the ball like him, gets in space, knows exactly how to do it and adjust to the ball so well.”
Bucs WR Ted Hurst – Picture by: IMAGN Pictures
Nothing towards Higgins, however few large receivers match as much as NFL Corridor of Famer Larry Fitzgerald. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 218 kilos throughout his enjoying days, “Fitz” dominated all through his 20s, placing collectively six 1,000-yard seasons. As his pace declined in his 30s, he reinvented himself as extra of a possession large receiver, tallying three extra 1,000-yard seasons. On the subject of Hurst, Smith sees similarities in how he takes on cornerbacks and his degree of focus catching the soccer whereas controlling his physique.
Smith and NFL insider James Palmer analyzed that additional for about 10 minutes turning on the movie, however one of many largest takeaways exterior of that comparability is the arrogance they’ve in Hurst having the ability to run a extra expanded route tree. He isn’t just a one-trick pony, and when requested from the place he can see him play on the subsequent degree, Smith didn’t even point out enjoying the X place first.
“He’s a Z, or depending on the team, he can turn into their F.”
With the Bucs already having Z and F choices in large receivers Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Jalen McMillan, Hurst will start his profession becoming extra of a particular area of interest. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson wants somebody with dimension to stack defensive backs and stretch the sphere vertically. Given the deep room, that leaves Robinson with a number of toys and a number of targets to unfold round.
Bucs WRs Jalen McMillan, Chris Godwin, Tez Johnson, Sterling Shepard and Emeka Egbuka – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Even with all of the expertise surrounding Hurst, Smith believes he may and ought to be utilized each time attainable.
“Overall, for me, what kind of guy do I see is this is a big, burly guy,” Smith mentioned. “You get him into your organization, you go ahead and you line him up because he can line up anywhere. He has the speed to play X, but he has the physicality to play Z, and he has the potential to dominate to rotate as being your F. It really just depends on where you are, how things look, and what is surrounding him.”
It’s attention-grabbing to notice how extremely Smith considered Hurst within the pre-draft course of. A theme of the Bucs 2026 draft class is that they discovered nice worth choosing prospects, and Hurst was regarded as somebody who may have went a whole spherical earlier.
“I think in the second round would be good. I see a run on guys in the second round just because the first-round guys are the first-round guys… A day 2 guy like Ted Hurst can really benefit and actually go to a team that doesn’t need him today but flourishes and becomes a key centerpiece for their offense in years to come.”
That seems like a practical path for Ted Hurst, one which he’ll start throughout his rookie season with the Bucs. For the total breakdown of Hurst’s recreation, Steve Smith Sr.’s movie breakdown with James Palmer is a must-watch that you will discover beneath.
