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2018 NFL Draft: Prospects that may not fit the Oakland Raiders

By Jordan Alexis

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: A detailed view of Oakland Raiders helmets sitting on the bench during the National Anthem prior to their game against the Atlanta Falcons at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 18, 2016 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: A detailed view of Oakland Raiders helmets sitting on the bench during the National Anthem prior to their game against the Atlanta Falcons at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 18, 2016 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 17: Defensive lineman Vita Vea #50 of the Washington Huskies defends against the Portland State Vikings on September 17, 2016 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 17: Defensive lineman Vita Vea #50 of the Washington Huskies defends against the Portland State Vikings on September 17, 2016 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

Vita Vea – Defensive Tackle, Washington

I feel like the disclaimer I just made was needed for Vita Vea specifically. I’ve seen a lot of people say they want Vea to stabilize the run defense which has been a problem for the Raiders for years. This is a viable concern and it something Oakland should address in the draft.

However, taking a player like Vea at #10 overall just seems like a bit of a stretch to me.

For starters, I think he fits better in a 3-4 defensive scheme as the anchor at nose tackle. He keeps drawing comparisons to Haloti Ngata, and that is the exact role he played when he was in his prime with Baltimore.

Paul Guenther runs more of a 4-3 scheme which I think it would lead them to target a more penetrating 3-tech like Michigan’s Maurice Hurst. In order to take stress off Khalil Mack when he is rushing the passer.

Then you begin to look at the value of a player like Vea, which is where my biggest issues are. If you are going to be drafting a defensive lineman that high, he has to offer a certain amount of pass rush ability that Vea just doesn’t have. And the NFL is showing us that 2-down run stuffers just aren’t as valuable in a pass-heavy league.

For example, another Washington product Danny Sheldon was just traded away because despite how great of a run stopper he was, he offers little on passing downs. The Browns couldn’t justify paying him when the time came.

And Sheldon isn’t the only one, as similar players like Johnathan Hankins and Dontari Poe faced problems in past free agency. With how fast quarterbacks get the ball out of their hands, interior penetration is becoming extremely necessary.

So, it is hard to justify drafting and eventually paying big money for Vea’s player type.

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