Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft Vita Vea: Instant grade and analysis
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Vita Vea with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Here’s all you need to know about Vea, including our grade.
Many thought that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were going with a pick in the secondary in the first-round. However, they went with another important need instead at defensive tackle. Tampa Bay was able to trade back from No. 7 to No. 12 with the Buffalo Bills to select Washington Huskies nose tackle Vita Vea.
Strengths
The 6-pound-4, 347-pound interior force is a very intriguing prospect. In three seasons with the Huskies, he also showed some ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks. In 2016, Vea totaled a career-best five sacks. This past season, the massive prospect racked up 43 tackles, 4.5 quarterback traps and knocked down four passes.
Considering weight and position, Vea’s ability to rush the quarterback is special. He should be almost impossible for one man to block at the point of attack. He also showed functional strength in college, a key trait that should transfer well into the NFL.
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Weaknesses
There is cause for concern when it comes to the former Husky, at least according to one NFC West Coast scout (via NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein). “I’m still kind of bothered that he hasn’t corrected some of the same issues he had last year. I think he’s going to be a really good NFL player and his issues are all correctable –he just needs to do it.”
At his size, one has to wonder whether Vea is going to be able to hold up. We’ve seen bigger bodies break down quicker, from Gilbert Brown of the Green Bay Packers in the 1990s to Dontari Poe’s need for back surgery in this decade. That said, Poe is still effective post-surgery, something that gives hope to Vea fans.
Grade
Vea paired next to perennial Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy could be absolutely nasty. Defensive coordinator Mike Smith loves having big guys that can stuff the run in the trenches. There were better landing spots for Vea than Tampa Bay, but the Buccaneers should be happy to have landed him.
Grade: B+