Washington Redskins: 5 First-round targets in 2018 NFL Draft
4. Vita Vea, DT, Washington
There’s a chance the Redskins won’t even have the choice of Payne or Vea. Some teams in the lower half of the top ten could choose. The Raiders, who choose 10th overall, also have a need in the middle of their defense and Vea would make sense. But it appears the sweet spot for Vea is anywhere from the 10-15 range, putting the Redskins firmly in the mix. Washington is one of several teams that have pre-draft visits lined up for the massive defensive tackle.
Washington DT Vita Vea, one of the top players in the draft, visits Cowboys, Buccaneers, Packers Washington, Chargers, Giants, Bengals, Broncos, Browns, according to a league source
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 6, 2018
At 6-4, 347 pounds, Vea has the size of a prototypical nose tackle for a 3-4 defense. Washington has run the 3-4 since 2010 and has never had a true nose tackle. Vea is a true nose, but the biggest question facing him is how much more is he? Is he a three-down player? With teams generally using nickel for the majority of snaps in today’s game, the need for a true nose tackle isn’t what it used to be.
Make no mistake, Vea is more than a two-down player. He proved at Washington he could not only collapse the pocket and get to the quarterback but stop the run with ease, too. He faced double-teams on literally every snap in college and won more often than not. Despite his size, Vea is an impressive athlete. Not only can he play the nose, he can line up at defensive end in the 3-4, too. That versatility appeals to the Redskins and defensive line coach Jim Tomsula.
There’s a very real possibility that Vea is Washington’s pick at No. 13 if he is still on the board in just over two weeks. And it would be an excellent choice.