The Bucs had an under-the-radar rookie land on a list that every player who missed the draft wants to be on.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ' wide receiver room is going to look very different in 2026 despite having most of the same faces back. That's what happens when a future Hall of Famer chooses to walk out the door to another franchise after over a decade in Tampa .
But that's the reality that the Bucs have to face without Mike Evans . And while no one will replace his particular skill set and ability, even in his mid-30s, the Bucs still have a number of options to be an effective passing attack in 2026.
With Emeka Egbuka , Chris Godwin , and Jalen McMillan back, the team has a strong top three. Rookie third round pick Ted Hurst c0uld find himself as an important part of the offense sooner than later, given his size and ability to make contested catches.
But one player no one is really talking about could turn some heads this offseason: Georgia Tech undrafted free agent Eric Rivers.
In fact, Bleacher Report listed the most exciting undrafted free agent rookie for each team , and they picked Rivers for the Bucs.
"It wasn't all that surprising that Rivers went undrafted despite a 2024 season in which he topped 1,100 receiving yards at Florida International, averaged almost 19 yards per catch and scored 12 touchdowns-at just 5'10" and 177 pounds, he has the build of a slot receiver but the game of a boundary wideout," Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report wrote.
Rivers had his biggest year at Florida International University in 2024, finishing with 1172 yards and 12 touchdowns on 62 catches. He posted 46 catches for 658 yards and two scores last year for Tech.
But it's likely on special teams where Rivers could butter his bread this year and make the roster. Rivers checks all the boxes as far as athleticism. He posted a 4.35 40-yard dash, 10-foot 7-inch broad jump and 37-inch vertical jump this offseason. He also can return punts, which would give him one more notch in his belt in trying to make a roster.
We'll see how things go when the Bucs' training camp gets underway in late July, but for now, Rivers could be a player that leaves a lot of people scratching their heads and wondering how no one picked up on him during the draft.
