Why I'm Buying the Early Buccaneers Hype Around Ted Hurst

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in New York for joint practice sessions with the Jets after completing their first couple of weeks of training camp before their first preseason game.

There have already been a handful of standouts in camp, including the reemergence of David Walker and rookies Rueben Bain Jr. and Joshiah Trotter, who are showcasing exactly why the Bucs took them with their first two picks in the NFL Draft.

However, there has been another standout, this time on the offensive side of the ball, that I am buying the hype of: rookie wide receiver Ted Hurst.

Buy the Ted Hurst Hype

The Bucs drafted Hurst in the third round, despite the young wideout coming from a lower-level program.

The thought is that it would take Hurst some time to adjust to the NFL and develop certain portions of his game.

And while there are still some areas of improvement as he continues his growth in acclimating to the league, the early reports are undeniable.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Ted Hurst | @LogansTwitty

Hurst has been receiving early praise from his teammates and coaches alike, and for good reason.

With the Bucs' wideouts in and out of practice, for one reason or another, Hurst has stepped in for some first-team reps and continues to show why the Bucs took him in the third round.

He has looked fluid in and out of his breaks, which is spectacular given his six-foot-four frame, fast, mentally focused, strong at the point of attack, and great hands. And that doesn't even account for the fact that Todd Bowles loves how fast the rookie has picked up on the knowledge side of things.

Once looked at as a physical freak athlete that would need time to develop, it's time to really slow down and imagine how big of a role Hurst will have in the Bucs' offense that is already one of the more talented in the league.

While we are buying the early hype surrounding Hurst, he will have to continue this success into joint practices and the preseason to show he can do it against opposing defenses in live action.

Not only that, but continuing to be consistent will be key if he hopes to earn valuable reps alongside the likes of Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and even Tez Johnson.

Many have already started to make comparisons of Hurst to Buccaneers legend Mike Evans, and while we can see why, I don't believe he has to be Evans for him to be successful in Tampa Bay.

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