Vita Vea is one of the biggest NFL Draft prospects this year and he’s got a game just as large as his 6-4, 350-pound frame would indicate.
The Washington Huskies have been producing NFL players with a greater frequency since Chris Petersen arrived in town. His best prospect could be defensive tackle Vita Vea who projects to hear his name called in the first half of the NFL Draft on April 26.
It’s a bit of a down year for defensive linemen in this year’s class. The lack of pass rushers has been a big talking point leading up to the draft, but there is a severe paucity of interior lineman. Vea is the best of the bunch this year, but he’s more than just a one-gap run-stuffer.
Below, you’ll find my breakdown of Vea based on his college career and what type of player he’ll be for the NFL team that drafts him.
Vita Vea, defensive tackle, Washington
Vea is a mountain of a man and one of my favorite prospects in the draft after watching him move like a dancing bear at Washington.
The 6-4, 347-pound defensive tackle is a better prospect than former Washington nose tackle Danny Shelton who went 12th to the Browns in 2015 but has since been traded to the New England Patriots.
Vea excels as a run stuffer where he can anchor at the point of attack and swallow up smaller centers and guards who try to double-team him. But he’s more than just a one-tech lineman and can move around and rush the passer with his quick burst and light feet. He even lined up on the edge at times in college.
He’s a raw pass rusher who uses his unmatched power to bull rush his way to the backfield but when he refines his technique, he can be a devastating tackle.
And ultimately, that’s the biggest concern for Vea. He has the size, speed and strength to be a dominant player, but he just needs to improve his technique and work with his position coach to reach his full potential which should be a starter for a long time.