Tampa Bay Picks Up Vernon Hargreaves’ Fifth Year Option

On Wednesday, the 24th of April, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked up cornerback Vernon Hargreaves’ fifth-year option. The deadline to have this done was quickly approaching with a May third date being that deadline.

Hargreaves was the Buccaneers first-round pick back in 2016 where he started all 16 games for the Bucs. Injuries and inconsistent play in 2017 prevented him from taking that big step forward in his sophomore season. Hargreaves was placed on injured reserve to finish out his 2017 campaign and looked to make a huge comeback in 2018 before suffering a season-ending injury week one against the New Orleans Saints.

Hargreaves is the third player to receive this fifth-year option from the Buccaneers in the past three seasons as Senior Writer and Editor for the Buccaneers Scott Smith pointed out. He joins Mike Evans and Jameis Winston in that category.

Head Coach Bruce Arians has had some praise for Hargreaves saying he could strive as a press corner in defensive coordinator Todd Bowles defense. Hargreaves himself stated he felt press corner was a more natural position for him.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be on the clock Thursday evening, the 25th of April, during the 2019 NFL Draft in Nashville Tenneesse. With Hargreaves looking like he’ll be in Tampa for at least another season, the Buccaneers could feel drafting a cornerback earlier than the fourth round might not be necessary.