The Pewter Plank
FanSided

Buccaneers: 4 players entering make-or-break seasons

By Ryan Doyle

TAMPA, FL - AUGUST 24: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up during a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Raymond James Stadium on August 24, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - AUGUST 24: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up during a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Raymond James Stadium on August 24, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 24: Vernon Hargreaves #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers breaks up a pass intended for Brandin Cooks #10 of the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 24, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 24: Vernon Hargreaves #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers breaks up a pass intended for Brandin Cooks #10 of the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 24, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Vernon Hargreaves

Tampa Bay’s secondary is going to look remarkably different in 2018. General manager Jason Licht took to the Draft and added talent at both safety and cornerback. Throw in the recent release of both Josh Robinson and Keith Tandy; it is a new era for the Bucs defensive backs.

light. Trending. M.J. Stewart, Carlton Davis, will transform Bucs' secondary

If the cornerbacks are going to be successful in 2018, Tampa Bay needs Vernon Hargreaves to live up to his first-round draft status.

2018 is a big season for Hargreaves because he has two cornerbacks ready to make a splash in their rookie seasons. Carlton Davis has already locked down a starting corner position, and M.J. Stewart is prepared to pounce on another if Hargreaves falters.

Tampa Bay would love for him to be the team’s nickel back for the next decade, but he hasn’t shown that ability yet.

Hargreaves will likely never turn out to be the lockdown outside cornerback, but he could become one of the best nickel backs in the game. He is one of the quickest corners in the business and Hargreaves did shine in the preseason against one of the league’s best route runners, Golden Tate.

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