Not all prospects are considered equal. Some have been destined for the NFL since middle school, while others have to fight their way there. Hurst falls squarely into the latter category. He was forced to start his career at Division II, and he was a zero-star prospect when he eventually hit the transfer portal. However, after two years at Georgia State, the Buccaneers selected him with the 84th overall pick. Let’s dive into everything you need to know about Hurst.

Ted Hurst Fantasy Football Outlook With The Buccaneers

As far as landing spots go, the Buccaneers are a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, it’s definitely an appealing offense. Their offense struggled a bit down the stretch last season, but they were a top-five unit in both points and yards per game the year prior. Baker Mayfield was in MVP contention early in the year in 2025-26, and it’s not impossible for him to have a bounce-back statistical season next year.

However, it’s clear that the loss of offensive coordinator Liam Coen had a negative impact on Mayfield. His numbers were down basically across the board last season. His adjusted yards per attempt fell from 8.1 to 6.8, while his touchdown passes dipped from 41 to 26.

Additionally, Hurst will have to navigate a crowded depth chart. Even with Mike Evans departing to San Francisco, the Buccaneers still have plenty of talent at receiver. Chris Godwin is still there, as is last year’s first-round pick Emeka Egbuka. Jalen McMillan also had a promising rookie campaign two years ago before missing most of last season while recovering from injury. It gives Hurst an uphill battle just to get on the field.

Should You Plan to Draft Ted Hurst this year?

Before the NFL Draft, Hurst was coming off the board with an average ADP of 218.3 on Underdog. That was good for an average landing spot of WR88.

Landing in Tampa Bay shouldn’t have a huge impact on that. Barring an injury to one of the team’s top three receivers, it’s hard to see him having a huge impact as a rookie.

The more appealing prospect is Hurst in dynasty leagues. Godwin is on the downside of his career, and the Buccaneers can walk away from his contract at the end of the season. If that happens, Hurst could be poised for a potential breakout as a sophomore.

Add in his appealing physical traits, and Hurst makes sense as a second-round target in dynasty leagues.

2026 Scouting Report For Ted Hurst

After arriving at Georgia State, Hurst took over as the team’s clear No. 1 pass catcher. He had just under 2,000 receiving yards across his two seasons, despite playing for a team that struggled to throw the ball.

Hurst stood out against the weaker level of competition. He had a ridiculous 61% contested catch rate against Sun Belt opponents, who struggled to deal with his combination of size and athleticism. Hurst ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at 6’4” and 206 lbs, giving him prototypical size for the position. The defenders in the Sun Belt were generally not equipped to handle that.

Whether or not Hurst can translate to the NFL level remains to be seen. He’s certainly going to have to earn his way onto the field, and Dwain McFarland’s Rookie Super Model reflects that uphill battle. Comparable receivers have posted a top-36 PPR season at just an 18% clip through their first three years, making Hurst more of a dynasty dart throw than a redraft option.

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