Houston Texans Release Vernon Hargreaves III

Vernon Hargreaves III was a very highly regarded cornerback out of the University of Florida back in 2016. He was the third defensive back taken in the NFL Draft that year, going 11th overall to the Buccaneers after the Jaguars selected Jalen Ramsey and the Giants took Eli Apple.

Hargreaves struggled mightily in Tampa Bay during his four years there, and the Bucs placed him on waivers shortly after benching him back in November. The Texans, dealing with a slate of injuries and general ineffectiveness at corner, picked Hargreaves up. Purely out of necessity, he quickly found himself in Houston’s rotation at CB. He wasn’t as effective as fellow former first round corner and midseason acquisition Gareon Conley in Houston, but he also wasn’t, say, Von Hutchins level bad.

Nevertheless, desperate as they still are at cornerback, there was no earthly way the Texans were going to keep him on the roster at his fifth-year option salary, so this afternoon’s news of the team and Hargreaves parting ways is hardly a surprise.

Hargreaves is now a free agent and free to sign with any NFL team. I wouldn’t rule out a return to NRG Park at a much lower cap hit, but in no way do I think that’s anywhere close to a sure thing. Best of luck to VH3 wherever he lands.