TAMPA — Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield said he expects free-agent signing Kenny Gainwell and third-round pick Ted Hurst III to make an immediate impact on an offense that lost leading receiver Mike Evans, now a 49er, this offseason.
“Ken has been doing great,” the ninth-year quarterback said on the first day of minicamp. “He’s somebody that I’ve respected from afar when he was Philly and the Steelers. You can tell he’s a sharp kid who’s always been able to do pass protection stuff. He was doing that in Philly from a very early on in his career point, and then in Pittsburgh he actually balled out. Now to have him here, we’re lucky because he’s extremely sharp, a great leader, can do everything you ask for. Obviously with Bucky coming back slowly it’s good to have those guys, and obviously the running back room still having Tuck in there as well.”
Gainwell, the former Eagles and Steelers running back, averaged around 500 yards from scrimmage per season across four years in Philadelphia before breaking out in Pittsburgh in 2025, topping 1,000 yards from scrimmage and hauling in 73 passes — more than double his previous career high of 33. Tampa Bay valued his similarity to Bucky Irving, the Bucs’ leading rusher the past two seasons, reasoning that either back could run the same offense if the other missed time. Irving is being eased back into action after shoulder surgery, giving Gainwell heavy reps through offseason workouts. Gainwell could absorb the 45 targets that went to Rachaad White last year, with White now in Washington.
The Bucs’ offseason was driven primarily by defensive needs after the 2025 squad ranked 20th in points allowed, 19th in yards allowed and 24th in sack percentage. Tampa Bay devoted its first two draft picks and four of its first five to defense, projecting as many as five new starters on that side of the ball. But the club made what it called surgical strikes on offense, adding Gainwell in free agency and selecting Hurst, a Georgia State wide receiver, in the third round.
Hurst profiles as a prototypical ‘X’ receiver — the position Evans dominated for years — after a prolific final two college seasons. Mayfield said the rookie’s physical tools stand out. “I really like Ted’s game,” Mayfield said. “He’s a bigger-bodied receiver. Exceptional hands. I think his body control, he can really cover a lot of ground. For a big guy, he can cover a lot of ground. He should be a weapon for us, he should be able to help us out. For him, it’s the normal rookie stuff, learning the offense, formations, to where it’s not having to think the whole time. It’s more second nature. That goes with it the whole time. He’ll get better each day and continue to grasp it and help us out.”
Head Coach Todd Bowles tempered expectations while expressing confidence in Hurst’s trajectory. “That’s a work in progress right now,” Bowles said of the rookie pass-catcher. “He’s a very bright guy, but every rookie’s got some learning to do, and that will progress through the preseason and probably through the regular season as well, but I do see him helping us right away.”
The Buccaneers continue minicamp this week in Tampa before breaking for the summer ahead of training camp.