POSITIVES
Vernon Hargreaves is an instant improvement to a porous secondary that gave up 31 passing touchdowns and couldn’t stop a slant route. That could have been the defensive scheme, but if the corners can’t stop one of the simplest offensive plays in the game, changes need to happen. Hargreaves was the top or second best corner in the draft based on where you consider Jalen Ramsey. Hargreaves is a play-maker, something the Bucs haven’t had in a long time. Ronde Barber has given him his seal of approval and if Vernon is anywhere close to Barber, the Bucs’ secondary is on the right track to becoming back to a top defense. This was definitely a strong pick by the Bucs, and the fact they were able to trade back two spots and pick up an extra pick makes it even better.
NEGATIVES
The Bucs have bigger needs than a 5’10” corner with small arms. They already have two sub six-foot corners in Alterraun Verner and Brent Grimes. Brent Grimes is a comparable player to Vernon Hargreaves. The Bucs don’t need two Brent Grimes because they are “great corners”, looking at the “new” NFL wide receivers where they are all 6’4″ plus monsters like Julio Jones and Kelvin Benjamin. Breaking news, the Bucs play both of them twice every year.
Tampa’s primary need is improving their pass rush first because even if you have the best corners in the league receivers can get open when the quarterback has all day to throw.
I was not as thrilled with the pick like many other Bucs’ fans were, but they were able to make up for it with their next pick.
Next: Noah Spence