Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Top 5 offseason additions, post 2018 NFL Draft

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SEATTLE, WA – OCTOBER 22: Defensive lineman Vita Vea #50 of the Washington Huskies battles guard Gus Lavaka #63 of the Oregon State Beavers on October 22, 2016 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

3. Vita Vea, DT (Washington)

Back on the defensive line and now the interior will be addressed. As previously noted, the Buccaneers added a pair of former Philadelphia Eagles. As far as an outside pass-rusher, the team welcomes Vinny Curry. As far as an interior presence, the Bucs signed promising defensive tackle Beau Allen, a former seventh-round choice by Philadelphia in 2014. Free agency also brings veteran Mitch Unrein into the mix. Now defensive coordinator Mike Smith has several options to pair with perennial Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy.

But it is rookie Vita Vea that is the headliner here. While both Allen and unrein hope to add to the interior rotation, Smith is hoping at the incredible bulk from the University of Washington can slide in right next to McCoy as the starter. The 6-4, 347-pound prospect should immediate pay dividends for a Tampa Bay defense that finished a very-disappointing 23rd in the NFL this past season against the run. And in a division that features some of the better ground attacks in the league, this is as much of a priority as it is chasing down the quarterback.

Of course, should is the key word here. One NFC West scout stated (via NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein) the following when it came to Vea.

"“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.”"

If he does up his game a bit, he and McCoy could be a real force up the middle.

Next: No. 2

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