Ted Hurst | Georgia State | 6’4”, 206 lbs | July 2, 2004 (21 years old)
Ted Hurst was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, becoming the 15th wide receiver and 84th overall player selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
COLLEGE PRODUCTION
Despite prototypical size for a receiver, Ted Hurst was a zero-star recruit coming out of high school. He went to the only school that offered him a spot: Valdosta State. There, he caught 60 passes, topped 1,000 yards, and scored 10 touchdowns across two seasons. Ahead of his junior year, Hurst transferred to Georgia State and started to get noticed. He broke the school record with nine receiving touchdowns in his first season with the Panthers. As a senior, he hauled in 71 receptions for 1,004 yards and end zone trips. Those numbers earned him First-Team All-Sun Belt honors.
FILM
Standing at 6’4”, Hurst has great size and knows how to weaponize it. He uses his frame to box out smaller cornerbacks and win contest-catch situations, particularly in the end zone on fade routes. He has strong hands, plucking the ball out of the air with ease. But he’s not just a big-bodied boundary guy. Hurst also possesses a quick first step and has the top-end acceleration to blow past defenders on vertical routes.
For weaknesses, his release package does need some work. Hurst relies too heavily on his footwork, with minimal hand usage. He’ll need to develop that better to avoid getting bogged down in his release. And while he was listed at 185 in college, Hurst did himself a favor and bulked up some to combat press coverage in the pros. At the NFL Combine, he weighed in at 206 pounds, which I’d like to see him stay at to deal with bigger, stronger NFL corners.
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ATHLETIC TESTING
Hurst had himself a nice Combine, improving his stock in the process. He clocked a 4.42 40-yard dash, impressive for his size. He also had a 1.55 10-yard split. On the jumps, he recorded a 36.5” vertical and 11’3” broad. With an Athleticism Score of 87 per Next Gen Stats, Hurst is the fifth-ranked receiver in the 2026 class.
DRAFT ANALYSIS
Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Above-average
Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Average
Hurst was getting a lot of buzz leading up to the NFL Draft, with some thinking — myself included — he could go Round 2. Instead, he falls to Round 3 and lands with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’s a crowded WR room, even with Mike Evans leaving this offseason. Emeka Egbuka was a first-round selection last year and is entrenched as a starter. Same with veteran Chris Godwin, who still has two years left on his deal. Hurst will likely be competing with Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson for snaps in 3-WR sets.
FANTASY INSIGHTS
For fantasy purposes, managers should pump the brakes on any Year 1 expectations. Hurst may need some time to adjust to the speed of the NFL. With this landing spot, he doesn’t need to be thrown into the fire straight away. He can ease into a rotational role and spell the starters when needed.
Given how ugly the second round of rookie drafts looks right now, taking a chance on Hurst late in the round is perfectly fine if you’re a believer in the talent. The ability is definitely there; it just may take a year or two of development before Hurst becomes fantasy relevant.
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Wolf Trelles-Heard is a fantasy football contributor for Dynasty Football Factory. Find him on X at @DynastyFFWolf. #DFFArmy #FantasyFootball #AlwaysBeBuilding #NFL #NFLDraft #NFLTransactions #NFLTrades #AlwaysBeScouting
