Atlanta Falcons: Forecasting the future Edition 1
In this future Atlanta Falcons series we look at potential 2018 NFL Draft and Free Agency targets for the Dirty Birds, starting with Washington DT Vita Vea
A couple of months ago I wrote an article about possible needs the Atlanta Falcons will have to fill after the 2017 season. This is the first in a series of articles where I take a look at players Atlanta could potentially go after to fill those needs. We will look at both prospects for the 2018 draft and likely NFL free agents for next season.
The first position to look over throughout the next several postings is defensive tackle. As noted in that article from last May, the Falcons could lose Dontari Poe, Ra’shede Hageman, and Courtney Upshaw to free agency. Fortunately, the 2018 draft appears pretty deep at defensive tackle, and there are some nice options that could be available in free agency, too. Let’s start with a draft prospect:
Vita Vea DT Washington 6′ 5″ 344lbs
Vea’s height and weight are from his school’s website, though there are those – such as Greg Gabriel from Pro Football Weekly – who believe that number is inflated and that he’s closer to 6′ 4″ or so. We’ll see when he’s measured at the combine. That’s assuming he declares for the 2018 Draft, of course. He does have one more year of eligibility after 2017, so there’s no guarantee he leaves Washington early.
Whether he’s 6’3 or 6′ 5″ and whether he’s 344 pounds or 332 pounds, Vea is a remarkable athlete and could very well be a plug-and-play replacement for Dontari Poe should the former Kansas City Chief decide to leave Atlanta at the end of the season. The young Husky was recently featured in an NFL.com article titled “17 for ’17: College football’s most freakish athletes.” Considering he was a high school wildcat quarterback who’s clocked in the 4.8 range in the 40-yard dash and can post a 33″ vertical leap, “freakish” would seem to be appropriate.
Vea has drawn comparisons to former Raven and current Lion Haloti Ngata. He doesn’t have just weight-room strength – he displays excellent functional football strength. His mere presence almost requires a double-team, freeing up his teammates to make plays. He’s quick of the line and can change direction pretty well for a naturally big man. His football instincts are solid. He never gives up on a play.
His biggest weaknesses are his technique and – from a Falcons fan’s point of view – likely being too highly graded come draft weekend. Gabriel thinks he doesn’t get drafted any higher than the second round.
Next: 3 Reasons Why Matt Ryan Won’t Regress in 2017
I’d be thrilled if he lasted to the Falcons likely position in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft (somewhere between picks 29 – 32). There are other media outlets that project him as a possible Top 10 selection if he plays up to expectations.