4. Vita Vea (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Will we or won’t we see the 12th overall pick in April’s draft on the field this Sunday at the Superdome when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the New Orleans Saints?
“He’s making good progress,” said Bucs’ head coach Dirk Koetter to ESPN’s Jenna Laine recently in regards to rookie defensive tackle Vita Vea. “Unfortunately, it’s not to the point where he can play on the field. He’s working a lot behind the scenes — in the weight room, in the training room. He’s making progress but he’s just not ready to play on the field.”
The former University of Washington standout was part of the team’s overhauled defensive front offseason. The club added ends Jason Pierre Paul and Vinny Curry, as well as Vea and veterans Mitch Unrein (currently on injured reserve) and Beau Allen inside. Nevertheless, adding the 6’4”, 347-pound prospect was a solid move by Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht.
Once healthy, the husky former Husky hopes to make life easier inside for perennial Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy. And if the Buccaneers can improve their play against the run, the team could also become a lot more efficient rushing the passer. The team produced a league-low 22 sacks a year ago and will need to do much better this year with another double dose of Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Cam Newton on the horizon.