Top five offensive tackles for Redskins to target in 2020 NFL free agency
player. 54. . Offensive Tackle. Philadelphia Eagles. Halapoulivaati Vaitai. 4
If the Redskins are interested in investing in a potential-packed option, they could consider Halapoulivaati Vaitai.
Vaitai, affectionately known as “Big V”, was a fifth-round pick by the Eagles in the 2016 NFL Draft. He has developed into one of the league’s more respected swing tackles and has played a key role in filling in for both Jason Peters and Lane Johnson amid injuries the past few seasons.
Vaitai has played in 48 consecutive regular-season games for the Eagles. He had a career-high of 10 starts back in his second season and was generally solid. His only issue that season was allowing nine sacks, but the more he has played, the more that has improved.
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There’s nowhere on the line that Big V can’t play. He mostly played right tackle last year, logging 380 snaps at the position, but also spent time at right guard and left tackle. He can be a super-sub offensive lineman and at 27, he still has room to grow.
If Washington were to sign Vaitai, that’s what they’d hope for. Growth. He’s 6-foot-6, 320 pounds and is, at worst, one of the best swing tackles in the league. If given a chance to start, Vaitai could emerge as a solid option at either position. All he needs is that chance and if he comes at enough of a discount, the Redskins could view that as a solid investment.
Vaitai’s exact market is currently unclear and he may have to wait for some of the other, more established veterans to sign before he gets his deal. But he would fit Washington’s timeline and if they do a three-year deal with most of the money up front, that could be a mutually beneficial contract to give Big V a shot at earning a starting job.
And stealing an asset from the Eagles surely wouldn’t hurt the team’s cause either.