The Buccaneers decided to end their NFL Draft early in Round 6 by trading up with the Las Vegas Raiders — a first between Jason Licht and former disciple John Spytek — and drafting some tight end competition in the form of Bauer Sharp from LSU.
Sharp should come in and compete with Devin Culp for the TE4 spot from the get-go, but the recent QB-to-TE convert may have enough upside to be something more. Let’s dive into his background.
Bauer Sharp Career Stats
A no-star quarterback recruit out of Dothan High School, he received
one FCS offer from Southeastern Louisiana as a depth piece.
After a year, Sharp saw a clearer path to playing time by switching positions, so he became a tight end where his athleticism could be utilized. After spending his sophomore year acclimating to the new role, he produced in 2023 with 29 receptions for 288 yards and 3 touchdowns.
That garnered interest from Power 5 programs, and he transferred to Oklahoma. He transitioned well to the jump in competition and sharing targets with more high-profile options, corralling 42 catches for 324 yards and 2 touchdowns in 12 starts t0 lead the team.
He transferred again to LSU last season and started every game but regressed in production with 24 catches, 252 yards and 2 touchdowns. He participated in the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Athletic Testing
Bauer Sharp did the full range of athletic testing during the pre-draft process and tested very well at nearly 6-foot-5, 253 pounds.
He ran a very strong 4.63 40-yard dash, as well as even more impressive jumps (35” vertical, 10-foot broad) and agility drills (7.05-second 3-cone, 4.30-second short shuttle). That especially shows up on film, where he uses quick, sudden movements to separate on underneath and intermediate routes.
He recorded a 9.16 Relative Athletic Score, good for 124th out 1,471 tight end prospects between 1987 and 2026.
What Type of Player Is Bauer Sharp?
Sharp has played tight end only for three years, most of that time at the FCS level, so his production is somewhat encouraging when projecting his long-term future.
Sharp is a quick operator who understands how to uncover himself underneath, utilizing his buttery smooth body control, burst, and frenetic playstyle more so than route proficiency. With more polishing on the technical aspects, you could see those natural movement skills efficiently applied to a more diverse route tree.
He is a very willing, even violent blocker on the move. He clearly takes pride in fitting his assignments, from understanding them to carrying them through. He has short arms (31 3/4”) and below-average core strength, so it’s doubtful he’ll ever be a true plus in this area, but there’s possible outcomes where he is serviceable on lower-difficulty asks.
He’s played a large number of snaps on special teams throughout his career, almost 600, so that will play a huge role in whether or not he can make the roster.
Ultimately though, Sharp is still a project and suffers from some deficiencies (limited route tree, inconsistent blocking, ball security) that might require more patience than he’s worth.
Conclusion
At the end of the day here, we’re talking about a sixth-round pick, where hit rates are incredibly low league-wide. Some examples of sixth-rounders under Jason Licht? Khalil Davis, Scotty Miller, Ko Kieft, Josh Hayes, Trey Palmer, and Elijah Klein.
Some fine bit players for sure, but nobody you’re wishing was still rostered (or staying rostered) with the team.
Sharp has exceptional athleticism and a tenacious attitude, and those are fine-enough qualities to bet on at pick No. 185. He’ll provide competition in camp for Payne Durham, Ko Kieft, and Devin Culp, and that’s never a bad thing.
What do you think about it, Bucs Nation? Was this selection a fine way to cap the Bucs’ 2026 NFL Draft? Let us know in the comments.
