The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have picked up the fifth-year option on cornerback Vernon Hargreaves' contract.
From ESPN staff writer Jenna Laine:
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are picking up the fifth-year option on cornerback Vernon Hargreaves, the team announced Wednesday night. It will keep him with the club through 2020 and earn him $9 million.
The deadline to pick up fifth-year options for 2016 NFL draft picks is May 3. Hargreaves was the 11th overall pick that year and the third cornerback selected, behind Jalen Ramsey and Eli Apple.
Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official website confirmed Tampa Bay picking up Hargreaves' fifth-year option on Thursday. He says this is the third straight year the Bucs have done so on a first-round draft pick. They picked up wide receiver Mike Evans' option in 2017 and quarterback Jameis Winston's last year.
Smith goes into further detail regarding Hargreaves.
The Hargreaves one might have taken a little more deliberation, simply because injuries have limited him to 10 games over the past two seasons.
However, new head coach Bruce Arians has indicated strong confidence in Hargreaves, expecting him to thrive as a press corner in the team's new defense.
In addition, Hargreaves was performing well in training camp and at the beginning of the regular season last year before a shoulder injury in Game One pushed him to injured reserve.
Laine substantiates Smith's comments on Arians. The Bucs' head coach shared his sentiments on Hargreaves during the owner's meetings in Phoenix last month, per ESPN.
I think Vernon has all the talent in the world, he works hard, he is smart.
Why can't he be successful? He's just gotta stay healthy.
The Bucs stumbled to a 5-11 (.313) finish last season. They're seeking their first postseason appearance in 12 years.
A healthy Vernon Hargreaves can help Tampa Bay's postseason aspirations in the 2019 NFL season.
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