Vita Vea was drafted by the Bucs in the first round of the 2018 draft. Vea was injured at the beginning of his career and missed the first three contests. After that, he struggled to acclimate to the next level.
However, he found a way to contribute more and more as the season progressed and totaled 26 six tackles and 3 sacks in the second half of the season (from week 10 through week 17). He definitely showed flashes of brilliance.
In his recent Podcast “In the Trenches,” former Buccaneers’ guard Ian Beckles said he sees a lot of potential in the former Washington product: “He showed me the last six games he has the ability to be a star. He is fire on the field. Way more athletic than I thought he could be.” Listen to the full podcast HERE.
Beckles definitely has a point. As of late Vea’s play has been very impressive. He was to be found in the opposing offense’s backfield on a consistent basis.
Vea’s further improvement will also depend on what the Bucs decide to do with Gerald McCoy. As of now, it seems very likely that the Bucs will part ways with the former first round pick from 2010 in this offseason. This would certainly not make things any easier for Vita Vea.
Hopefully Vea can avoid a sophomore slump and continue where he left off at the end of this season.
