With the 2018 Nfl Draft approaching, Dallas Cowboys fans are more than a little curious who their team will select with the No. 19 spot overall this April. If Dallas is looking to improve on defense, they should look no further than Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea.
What’s his name?
Tevita Tuliakiono Tuipuloto Mosese Va'hae Faletau Vea, better known to college football fans as Vita Vea, is as big of a handful on the field as it would be to put that entire name on an NFL jersey! Vea is a flat out beast when it comes to slowing down an opponents offense and according to Cowboys Wire, the University of Washington nose tackle is definitely in the mix for Dallas - that is if Vea is still available when the Cowboys team name is called to the podium in round one.
This brings up the question, would Dallas trade up to assure of getting Vea? As pointed out by CW, despite picking in the back half of the first round, the Cowboys should have plenty of options in terms of their first-round selection on defense, but Vea may be the best out there this year at the nose position. If Dallas does draft Vea with their first-round selection, it will be something they haven't done in quite a while.
The Cowboys have never spent higher than a sixth-round pick on a nose tackle since Willie Blade in 2001. That needs to change if they are going to be able to compete in the very strong NFC East division this season. What better way to build than selecting Vea?
Best man for the job
When Vea, the Pac-12 Conference defensive player of the year, officially announced declared for the NFL draft back in January, fans of the Washington Huskies had mixed emotions. Of course, they want him to stay and continue to dominate conference quarterbacks with his intense play, but they know that Vea will be one heck of a player in the NFL.
The 6-foot-4, 347-pound former Washington Huskies star recorded 65 solo tackles, 15 which were for a loss, 34 assists and 9.5 QB sacks in his three years at UW. What you don’t see in those stats is the constant disruption he can cause, not to mention his need to be double-teamed much of the time.
The Cowboys aren’t alone in having hopes of adding Vea to their roster this fall, but now the big question is how much are the will to sacrifice to get him?
According to 247 Sports, the Green Bay Packers are reportedly very interested in Vea as well, and they have the No. 14 overall selection this April - five spots ahead of Dallas. Green Bay is expected to meet with Vea this week.