The Buccaneers select DT Vita Vea

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed help on their defensive front and they got just that as they drafted Washington’s Vita Vea.

The team heavily scouted the college standout, which included a visit to One Buc Place.

This was an excellent decision by Jason Licht and his front office staff. Not only was a need addressed with this selection, but Vea also provides a player with a top-talent ability and for the future.

Below is the scouting report from Bucs Nation’s Kyle Marks on Vea.

• Pros: Vea is a powerful tackle and shows good aggression at the POA. Shows good punch and awareness, often locates the ball and shows the ability to disengage and make the play. Ability to shed blocks is impressive given the amount of athleticism used to do so over just simply out muscling opponents. Once momentum is gained, bull rush can be downright impressive. Shows the raw talent needed to continue to grow at the next level.
• Cons: While showing good raw athleticism, Vea seems to struggle far too much with staying on his feet. Vea doesn’t appear to have the greatest balance when on the move. Lacks body awareness, often too far out in front and at times will simply play too tall for stretches at a time. Did not seem to understand how to properly work against double teams. Doesn’t show follow up moves in pass rush, technique is lacking and currently relies heavily on a simply bull rush. Initial reaction to snap isn’t as quick as you’d like. Didn’t grow as much from 2016 to 2017, showing same inconsistencies with motor and overall level of play from snap to snap.

Overview: Vea will be drafted primarily on what he may become given some of the natural athleticism he has shown, rare play making ability he flashes and his overall size. If he lives up to the potential, you may have a dominant interior lineman on your hands, if he only marginally improves, you have a two down player who can plug holes but will struggle against double teams and that will struggle to apply pass rush pressure. For the Buccaneers, Vea isn’t a player I would target inside the top 10 for the simple fact that his inability to maintain play at a high level for more than several downs at a time and his inability to beat a double team in college despite having some rare traits and size. Vea is still however, clearly the 4th best defensive line prospect in this draft and should find himself taken by the early 20’s at worst, with his best fit being for an odd front team.