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Rumors: Vita Vea to Redskins is “worst kept secret in the league”

By Jacob Camenker

EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 08: Defensive lineman Vita Vea #50 of the Washington Huskies looks on prior to the game against the Oregon Ducks on October 8, 2016 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 08: Defensive lineman Vita Vea #50 of the Washington Huskies looks on prior to the game against the Oregon Ducks on October 8, 2016 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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Vita Vea is one of the best nose tackles in this draft and the Washington Redskins have a need at the position. Could it be a match made in heaven?

The Washington Redskins have been linked to many players in the lead-up to the 2018 NFL Draft, but one of the most important positions that they are targeting is the nose tackle spot. The team has had a weakness at that spot since they switched to a 3-4 defense. And it seems like the team is ready to finally address that need.

Right now, it’s quite possible that the Redskins could take a nose tackle in the first round. They have been tied to Da’Ron Payne and Vita Vea, and had both in for official visits, but it seemed for a long time that the former was the favorite of the front office. However, recent news seems to be pointing to Vea as the potential top option.

In his latest NFL Mock Draft, Draft Analyst’s Tony Pauline mocked Vea to the Redskins. And all he had to say about the fit was this.

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“Vea to the ‘Skins is the worst kept secret in the league.”

Pauline tends to have a solid pulse on what is happening around the NFL, and he bases his mocks on what he is hearing from league sources. So, this news shouldn’t be taken lightly. It now looks like Vea well could be the preferred nose tackle option with the No. 13 pick.

Recently, I outlined Vea as a potential option for the team, but I ranked him as only the fifth best option with the first round pick. This is what I said about the possibility of selecting Vea.

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"Vea is a really good-looking player, and his movement skills are off the charts given his 6-foot-5, 340 pound frame. He’s going to be a powerful player at the next level and he should have a chance to be an excellent run stuffer.That said, he never showed great pass rushing ability, and may not be able to overpower interior offensive linemen at the NFL level, and he doesn’t have a great first step. He should be able to overpower players in run defense and open up lanes for other pass rushers. But as a pure pass rusher, he may not be able to be on the field on every third down."

This could be concerning for Vea as a potential top 15 pick. The fact that he may not be able to ever become a true pass rushing threat will limit his effectiveness. While he has excellent size and should have a big impact on the team’s run defense, it might not be worth it to spend the No. 13 pick on a run stopper. Especially when a guy like Da’Ron Payne, who has more athletic upside for the next level, might be on the board.

At the same time, it’s possible that Vea could become better working with Jim Tomsula, and he could be a star at the NFL level. He has upside, and he has insane athletic ability considering his size. So, he wouldn’t necessarily be a bad pick. He just may not be as well-rounded as some of the other options that are on the board.

Next: Redskins top five Big Board for No. 13 pick

In the coming days, we’ll keep working the rumor mill to find more news about potential Redskins draft picks. For now, Vea looks like a strong possibility, but we’ll keep you updated on everything here at Riggo’s Rag.

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