Raiders 2018 NFL Draft: 5 potential first-round picks
By Brad Weiss
When it comes to the defensive tackle position in the 2018 NFL Draft class, there is no better player than Vita Vea. The big man from the Washington Huskies is a run-stopping machine, but his skill set goes well beyond just clogging the middle of the line.
In Guenther’s schemes, the Raiders will have to rush four, and there is not enough talent to do that just yet. If the organization decided to add a player like Vea to the mix, they would have the personnel to allow Guenther to run the kind of defense he is accustomed to.
Vea would not only stop the run, but he would help Khalil Mack get the edge on the outside. The big thing with Vea is his strength, and he would cause double teams, which would enter turn Mack loose to have an even bigger impact on defense next season.
As a defensive tackle, Vea is the total package, and the Raiders definitely have a need on the interior of their defense. At No. 9 or 10, Vea should be available to the Raiders, and if Smith is off the board, he becomes the most important draft prospect in this draft class for them.
The Raiders defense should be much improved with Guenther at the helm, as the Cincinnati Bengals were always tough on defense during his tenure. Vea curses a lot of issues, and is the second-best first round choice for the Raiders this draft season.