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Second in a series of profiles on 10 players who could be a target of the Raiders in the NFL draft with the 10th overall pick. No. 2 is massive Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea.
College: Washington
Position: Defensive tackle
Ht/Wt: 6-foot-4, 347 pounds
Why he fits the Raiders: The Raiders looked hard at Haloti Ngata Oregon in the 2006 NFL draft, but bottom line felt he took too many plays off. So when the Raiders’ pick came at No. 7, they took Texas safety Michael Huff. Ngata, the player to whom Vea is often compared, went on to have a more accomplished career than any of the 11 players taken before him before Baltimore struck at No. 12. The Raiders don’t want to make the same mistake again.
Why he doesn’t: The Raiders anted up for a contract extension to keep Justin “Jelly” Ellis around, and even in a rotational set-up, it doesn’t make sense to have two players whose job it is to engulf blockers for those around him to make plays. Reggie McKenzie loves big and powerful, but Jon Gruden is looking for speed and explosion.
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Scouting report: Vea’s size and power are undeniable, and he’s versatile enough to actually have played …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Sports
