2018 NFL Mock Draft: Browns land Baker Mayfield

RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 04: North Carolina State Wolfpack defensive end Bradley Chubb (9) enters the field before the game between the Clemson Tigers and the NC State Wolfpack on November 04, 2017 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by William Howard/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: Vita Vea #50 of the Washington Huskies looks across the line of scrimmage prior to a play against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

player. 59. . DT. Washington. Vita Vea. 11

The Miami Dolphins enter the offseason with very little cap flexibility and could choose to move on from defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who’s scheduled for a $26.1 million cap hit in 2018. If Miami does cut ties with Suh, one player who could very well replace him is Washington’s Vita Vea.

Vea is a mountain of a human being (6-foot-4, 344 pounds) and has been one of the most disruptive interior pass rushers in college football over the past three seasons. Although he didn’t post outstanding numbers, he still has the potential to be one of the best players from this class when all is said and done.

As expected for a player of his size, Vea plays with outstanding power and can absolutely manhandle opposing blockers when matched up one-on-one. What’s more impressive, however, is how agile Vea is at his size. In fact, Washington coaches have said they clocked Vea running the 40-yard dash last summer in 4.8 seconds. A 4.8-second 40-yard dash at 344 pounds? Consider yourself terrified if you’re an NFL offensive lineman right now.

As much of a star as Vea is at times, occasionally he’ll look like just another guy on tape. Consistently playing at a high level and keeping his balance at the point of attack will be crucial to becoming an impact player at the NFL level. As difficult as it would be to replace a player of Ndamokung Suh’s caliber, Vea will certainly be a viable option for the Dolphins at this point in the first round.

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