Buccaneers beef up D-line with Vita Vea at No. 12

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have selected defensive tackle Vita Vea out of Washington with the 12th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.

The Washington product joins a defensive line that has already added plenty of talent this offseason after signing defensive end Vinny Curry, tackles Beau Allen and Mitch Unrein, and trading for end Jason Pierre-Paul. Vea will also have the luxury of learning from perennial Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.

Vea is the first interior defensive lineman drafted this year and fifth defensive player taken overall.

Vita Vea Bio

Position: DT
School: Washington
College Experience: Junior
Height: 6-4
Weight: 347 lbs

Strengths

• Uses his powerful body to bull-rush off-balanced lineman into the backfield and annihilates lighter guards; has the ability to bully offensive tackles in rotation.
• Ideally sized for nose tackle with room to gain upper body strength.
• Gap controller. Rarely lets a runner through his gap or a quarterback scramble past him. Can stop small-to-medium-sized running backs with arm tackles.

Weaknesses

• Inconsistent. Looks dominant on some plays but gets pushed around on others against the same players.
• Still learning how to use leverage and footwork to gain and keep position against blockers. Doesn't recognize oncoming double-teams.
• One-dimensional, and struggles to help much when pass-rushing against solid lines, other than keeping blockers occupied. May only be useful on early downs against the run.

Athletic testing