Houston Texans claims former Buccaneers cornerback Vernon Hargreaves

After getting waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a day ago, former first round pick Vernon Hargreaves has been claimed by the Houston Texans.

Just a day after being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, former 2016 first round pick Vernon Hargreaves has found a new home. Hargreaves was claimed by the Houston Texans, who turned out to be the only team to put a waiver claim in for him, with the 23rd priority on the waiver wire.

Thus far in the 2019 season for Hargreaves, who has started every game for the Buccaneers before his release, he has tallied just one interception (which came in the first quarter of the first game), and four passes defended. He is grading out at an abysmal 47.7 according to Pro Football Focus for his efforts in his fourth season to this point.

Bucs’ head coach Bruce Arians remained rather candid with the media today, saying it was “not hard” to move on from Hargreaves. The former first round pick in his fourth season was benched on Sunday by Arians after he did not hustle on a long catch and run by Arizona Cardinals’ rookie receiver Andy Isabella.

More from The Pewter Plank

• Devin White posts cryptic message to Lavonte David on Twitter
• ESPN predicts surprising outcome to Devin White trade saga
• Updated Buccaneers depth chart after signing two players from rookie minicamp
• Todd Bowles sends clear message about Baker Mayfield’s role with Bucs
• The Athletic is wrong about Bucs one ‘must-watch’ game in 2023

Houston has also been struggling this season against the pass, already trading for another former first round pick from the Oakland Raiders in Gareon Conley. Hargreaves and Conley join the veteran Jonathan Joseph in Houston as they look to continue toward their hunt for the postseason.

In addition to cutting Hargreaves yesterday, it was also reported that second-year cornerback M.J. Stewart is expected to miss a couple of weeks with a knee sprain, leaving the Buccaneers rather thin in the secondary. The pewter and red will now rely on rookies Sean Murphy-Bunting, Jamel Dean, and second year player Carlton Davis who is expected to make his return this week against the New Orleans Saints.

The move was a necessary one for the pewter and red to make, and it turns out the Buccaneers were not the only team who did not value his services as 30 other teams passed on him as well. Because Hargreaves was claimed on waivers and did not make it to free agency, the Bucs are not on the hook for the rest of his 2019 salary either, which is an added bonus.

The youngsters are going to get extended playing time for the rest of the season as Davis and Stewart are now the oldest cornerbacks in the room. Hargreaves does not have to go far to find his new home as Houston is just a little ways to the left of Tampa.