Kansas City Chiefs 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Vita Vea

If the Kansas City Chiefs are looking for a big man in the middle of the defense, not many have a better reputation than Washington’s Vita Vea.

It has become increasingly frustrating to watch the Kansas City Chiefs struggle to stop opposing run games. It used to be that stopping the run was a pretty simple affair for the Chiefs defense. However, they have been absolutely gashed the last two seasons, and the problem starts up front. So enter Washington Huskies big man Vita Vea.

The Chiefs chose to move on from Dontari Poe last offseason, and brought in noted run-stuffer Bennie Logan. While Logan made some plays, the overall efforts against the run were notably lacking for the KC defense. It’s time for a new approach and some new blood up front.

There are some other ways that Kansas City can help out against their run game, but getting a strong nose tackle that can hold the point of attack is the first step. Getting one that can work in the defense for the next several years is especially important. That makes the NFL draft a great tool for Brett Veach in fixing the issue.

Vita Vea – DT – Washington

NFLDraftScout.com Scouting Report

The Kansas City Chiefs need a guy who can plug up the running lanes, and most scouts seem to be in agreement that Vita Vea is the top man for the job. In truth, Vea would have been at least a day two pick in last year’s draft. Returning to school did nothing to hurt his draft stock though as he had another solid season.

Vita Vea is built like your classic 3-4 nose tackle, he is a bulldozer against the run. Vea can shed blockers, and has solid power in both his upper and lower body. Plays with excellent leverage, and is able to create a bull rush that most interior offensive linemen struggle against. He’s also got quality athleticism that allows him to keep pace with the play if it bounces outside.

Stat To Know: Vita Vea was the heart of a defense that allowed only eight rushing TDs.

The downside on Vita Vea is that he isn’t very quick off of the ball. That makes it difficult for him to generate a reliable pass rush consistently. Vea doesn’t show great recognition in the passing game, and often fails to get his hands up into the throwing lanes. Doesn’t always make the plays you think he should.

Filling An Immediate Need

Vita Vea should be able to step in right away and play for the Kansas City Chiefs. In terms of filling a need, this is hitting the nail on the head. The Chiefs have a clear need at defensive tackle, and Vea is easily a top tier prospect to fill that spot. If he’s still on the board when Kansas City goes on the clock, this shouldn’t be a tough decision.

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There is no doubt that Vita Vea deserves a first-round grade, and that makes him a tough target for Kansas City to grab. However, pure 3-4 nose tackles do tend to slip in the draft as they aren’t always in very high demand. That could put him in play for the Chiefs if they want to get aggressive.

Looking at the available talent in free agency this offseason, I just don’t know that you can find a better option than Vita Vea at nose tackle. Sure the Chiefs could try to bring back Dontari Poe, or make a move on someone like Sheldon Richardson. However, neither of them are the pure 3-4 nose that Vea is. They’re also a whole lot more expensive.

The Kansas City Chiefs have to do something to fix their run defense. For me, that effort needs to start up front. Vita Vea can eat up double-teams and move the pocket. He has the ability to be a disruptive force that causes opposing linemen problems. That’s everything you could want in a 3-4 nose tackle.