2016 NFL Mock Draft: Buccaneers Select Vernon Hargreaves III
It’s mock draft season, as most NFL teams are preparing for 2016 and beyond. The Buccaneers have several needs that Jason Licht will attempt to fill. See how this mock filled one of those needs for the Bucs in the first round.
Sunday afternoon, the combatants in the 50th Super Bowl will be decided. For the rest of the NFL, work for 2016 has begun, and the Buccaneers are no different. They are coming off of a 6-10 season, and have a lot of holes to fill. The draft is a great place to fill those holes.
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Our friends at NFL Mocks have begun publishing their mock drafts as they typically do at this time of year. In their most reason version, they have selected Vernon Hargreaves III as the Buccaneers’ first pick, the ninth over all. Here is what Erik Lambert, the draft’s creator, had to say:
"Down the final stretch of the 2015 season it became apparent that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were lacking in their secondary. Coverage breakdowns killed them time and time again, signaling they may need some revamping at cornerback in order to get thing gelling.They need not look far. Just up the highway at Florida, Vernon Hargreaves III has built a case for being the best corner in the country. Using instincts, aggressiveness, and physicality he’s able to consistently frustrate offenses with his all-around ability. He can drop to the line of scrimmage and make big tackles, blitz the quarterback but is even better in coverage with that agility and awareness to blanket receivers."
Take a look at the entire mock by clicking here
We will do more intense scouting on the player when the Combine comes in February, but let’s look at the pick.
Here are his stats while at Florida:
Defense & Fumbles
There is always a bit of a concern with an underclassman as to whether or not they are ready. So, let’s take a look at some highlights from his final year in college:
Hargreaves has ball skills, and those can’t be taught. What sticks out on film is how he catches the ball at its highest point, much like a sure-handed wide receiver. He faces strong competition in the SEC, and plays very strong in the man to man coverage.
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We will take another look at this guy after the Combine, but if the Bucs draft this young man, they could do a lot worse.