Sometimes, when music artists release projects, fans deem them as “instant classics.”
Ones that people go back to and reminisce on.
NFL draft classes can bring those same feelings, and that is the exact kind of reception Bucs fans have had looking at the team’s haul from the 2026 NFL Draft. The first hit that caught a lot of immediate fanfare was the selection of outside linebacker Rueben Bain Jr., but the hits kept coming, given how the fan base responded as they happened.
Drafting Rueben Bain Jr. Was The Right Pick, According To Bucs Fans
Before, during, and after the 2026 NFL Draft, Pewter Report has had you covered with analysis and insight into the Bucs’ approach and the players they went on to select. None of what we do is possible without the fans, who were right there with us as we reacted to each of the team’s draft picks. From the moment Rueben Bain Jr. was selected with the 15th overall pick, the reaction has been clear.
Fans love it.
Bucs OLB Rueben Bain Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
After each day of the NFL Draft, we put up polls on our X and YouTube accounts asking people to grade the moves. Then, after it concluded, we put up a final poll asking for a single letter grade to give Tampa Bay’s front office.
Starting with Day 1, fans were pleased.
Based on 2,161 total votes on our first poll, 85% and 78% from our respective YouTube and X audiences responded that they “LOVE IT” regarding the Bain pick. That is compared to just 13% and 19% who said it was a “solid pick,” 1% and 1.3% who said it was “not the best move,” and 1% and .6% who said they “don’t like it at all.”
It makes sense that many welcomed Bain as their favorite draft pick. Regarded as a top 10 talent at the team’s biggest position of need, Bain is the right fit on paper and for the kind of attitude and toughness he will bring to the Bucs’ defense. His skillset will serve the pass rush well as the front seven looks to get active bringing down quarterbacks and stifling running backs at the line of scrimmage.
It remains to be seen how the 2026 season plays out, but given the feedback, expect fans to shout “Tampa… Bain!” after he gets a sack or when he is lined up on third down.
Bucs Day 2 And Day 3 Selections Receive High Approval Rating
While not to the level of the Bucs taking Rueben Bain Jr., plenty of fans approved the team taking inside linebacker Josiah Trotter and wide receiver Ted Hurst.
Admittedly, that skews to landing Hurst in the third round, but there is reason to be optimistic about Trotter, too.
Bucs ILB Josiah Trotter – Photo courtesy of Missouri Athletics
As for what the YouTube and X polls said, of 1,718 respondents, 26% and 15.3% shared that those were “AMAZING” A-level selections. Much of the polling fell into the “above average” B-level category, with 60% and 59.4% saying so. While roughly 75% of fans are on board with those picks, the rest thought they were “meh” (12% and 23.6%) or “horrible” (2% and 1.7%).
Rounding it out on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Bucs used four selections to take defensive back Keionte Scott, defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart, offensive lineman Billy Schrauth, and tight end Bauer Sharp. Each was taken to shore up team needs, and fans praised the picks.
The YouTube poll (1,385 votes) is the only sample of data I am using here as the X poll was a small sample size. 45% of respondents said they were “PUMPED” about how Tampa Bay finished out the draft, while 44% thought it was a “nice draft haul.” 10% thought “it was ok,” with just 1% thinking it was “terrible.”
So, What Grade Would YOU Give The Bucs 2026 Draft Class?
Putting it all together, what did Bucs fans think about the team’s 2026 draft class?
Posing that question on YouTube, 1,317 votes came in as of late Tuesday morning – and the result is a landslide.
Tampa Bay aced it.
Bucs edge Rueben Bain Jr., GM Jason Licht and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R
71% gave the team an “A,” 27% gave a “B,” while just 2% gave a “C” and 1% gave a “D.”
After selecting Rueben Bain Jr., the Bucs could not do much wrong with their remaining picks. Among them, taking Josiah Trotter has caught the most flak, but he also has one of the highest ceilings at an important position. Some fans, and even a couple of Pewter Reporters, have come around to understand the thought process in taking Trotter.
Now, none of these polls and post-draft grades will mean much of anything until the players suit up and their play does the talking. Like the daily weather forecast, they do help assess what is expected. Based on the reactions, many Bucs fans have jumped back on board.
Finally, I want to pose the question to you, the reader.
What grade would you give the Bucs draft class?
Would you go with the majority and give it an A, or does something hold it back to grade it a B or worse?
Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.