Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Millions on the line for Vernon Hargreaves
Most fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have already decided we’d rather see Vernon Hargreaves III inside covering the slot rather than seeing him get another shot at defending the outside receivers.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ first-round draft pick from 2016 was disliked by some because he was a Florida Gator. Others disliked the pick because they disliked the player fit considering he was the eleventh overall selection.
Some even predicted Hargreaves was better suited as an NFL slot defender, and it would seem they’ve been proven right.
Heading into Tampa’s contest in Buffalo last season, I wasn’t alone in asking for the young corner to be shifted inside in hopes of sparking his performance level to better heights.
The Bucs did just that, and it worked. He played his best total game of the year. Despite the team’s loss, Hargreaves was praised for his individual performance and coaches even got a little credit. Now, it seems he’s getting another shot to grab a starting outside corner job.
However, this time it won’t be so easy. Jason Licht added several defensive backs to the roster. If I had to pick one which threatens Hargreaves’ claim to the job the most, I’d say Carlton Davis. Ryan Smith is a dark horse candidate as well.
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Smith has the athleticism and raw features to cover outside, we just need to see how much he can grow from last year to this one.
All of these reasons and one more all combine to make this year perhaps the most critical in the former Gators’ career. That last reason is money.
About a month and a half before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head into the 2019 NFL Draft, they’ll have to make a decision on whether or not they’ll pick up Hargreaves’ fifth-year option.
As the eleventh overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, picking up his option would pay Hargreaves the average of the salaries combined between the third and twenty-fifth highest salaries.
Looking at 2019’s current contracts across the NFL at cornerback (per Over the Cap), this appears to be around $11 Million. That’s a lot of scratch. Especially for a guy who is playing in the slot.
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Alternately, according to Bleacher Report’s rankings of slot defenders, Kendall Fuller, Chris Harris Jr., and Quadre Diggs top the list. Those three players will earn an average of $4.2 Million. Just a slight difference.
The Chicago Bears found themselves in a similar position when faced with picking up Kyle Fuller’s fifth-year option last off-season. They declined it, and Fuller became a restricted free-agent following the 2017 season.
Fuller responded by having a great season, and signing a strong offer sheet with the Green Bay Packers, which the Bears then matched.
With his new deal, Chicago will pay him $6.5 Million in 2018. Had he convinced the Bears to pick up his option, he’d be making $2 Million more.
Now, I know nobody is crying for fuller and his millions, but the bottom line is NFL players don’t often have long careers. The opportunity to earn double-digit or near double-digit salaries is rare when you look at the totality of the league.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are giving Hargreaves another shot to play outside, I believe, so they have a total picture for when they make this decision next off-season.
Hargreaves has not only his future in Tampa, but literally millions of dollars at stake when the team takes the field.