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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5 storylines to follow at training camp

By Cory Kinnan

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 21: Ronald Jones #27 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates after scoring in the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns on October 21, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Bucs won 26-23. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 21: Ronald Jones #27 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates after scoring in the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns on October 21, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Bucs won 26-23. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 15: Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 15, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Buccaneers 38-33. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 15: Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 15, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Buccaneers 38-33. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Will Vernon Hargreaves earn the trust of coaching staff?

The Buccaneers made Vernon Hargreaves their first round pick back in 2016, and since he has not done much to contribute to the team. One main factor to Hargreaves’ lack of production is that he is rarely on the field, missing playing time with injuries.

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Hargreaves seems to finally be healthy, and the coaching staff seems willing to give him the second chance that he needs. The Bucs picked up his fifth-year option as well, showing another sign that they have plans for Hargreaves in their future. Finally, he got starting reps in mini-camp on the outside and has the versatility to play in the slot as well.

However, the Buccaneers brought in Sean Murphy-Bunting, Jamel Dean, and Mike Edwards during day-two of the draft, and the secondary is no longer as shallow as it once was. If Hargreaves does not prove he is ready to contribute in Tampa Bay, he could easily become a trade target for the Buccaneers to pitch.

Entering his fourth year, Hargreaves gets a new defensive coordinator, a scheme that fits his skill set, and he is healthy. This training camp will be a big one for Hargreaves as he hopes to earn the trust of this new staff and not burn a bridge before it is built.

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