The Buccaneers were thrilled to get Rueben Bain Jr. in the 2026 NFL Draft, and we would have done the same. How else do the would-be selections using our board compare to the real-life class?

 

Actual selections

1.15: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.

2.46: LB Josiah Trotter

3.84: WR Ted Hurst

4.116: S Keionte Scott

5.155: DL DeMonte Capehart

5.160: G Billy Schrauth

6.185: TE Bauer Sharp

 

Wolf Sports selections

1.15: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.

2.46: LB CJ Allen

3.84: CB Jermod McCoy

4.116: CB Keionte Scott

5.155: G DJ Campbell

5.160: LB Harold Perkins Jr.

6.185: TE John Michael Gyllenborg

 

Thoughts

There was always going to be a chance of Rueben Bain Jr. falling behind of his arm length, but we had him as our No. 3 overall prospect, and it seemed the Ravens (one pick ahead of Tampa Bay) might have been the floor heading into draft night. The Bucs were the beneficiary of the fall, though, and his relentless playstyle and no-nonsense mentality should lead to an instant impact off the edge in Todd Bowles’ defense.

 

In Round 2, we would have also gone with a linebacker like the Bucs did, but Josiah Trotter was the choice over CJ Allen—which came as a definite surprise. Allen ended up going a few picks later to the Colts, so it will be fun to compare their respective careers; we feel our haul would have resulted in back-to-back steals for start things off.

 

In the third round, the Bucs selected Ted Hurst as another young wideout to via for snaps behind Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr.—but Jalen McMillan has shown he won’t give up the No. 3 job without a fight, and Tez Johnson should be better in Year 2. Tampa Bay is set with their starters at cornerback for 2026, but we would have gone with Jermod McCoy as the long-term option on the perimeter across from 2025 second-rounder Benjamin Morrison.

 

On Day 3, the Bucs began with another steal as Keionte Scott fell to the fourth round, and we would have make the same pick—reuniting him with his college teammate in Bain. Tampa Bay is starting him out at safety (which is what we’ve mentioned being a possibility when “drafting” him for other teams), but either way, he’s an exciting fit in an aggressive defense.

 

With the final three selections, the Bucs added DeMonte Capehart to the defensive line, Billy Schrauth to the offensive line, and Bauer Sharp at tight end with more of a reliance on heavy personnel under new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. We would have gone with DJ Campbell as the selection at guard, Harold Perkins Jr. (who Tampa Bay will see twice a year in Atlanta), and John Michael Gyllenborg as a talented receiving tight end.