NFL Coaches, Execs And Scouts Say Vita Vea Is 9th-Best Defensive Tackle
July 8th, 2025
vee-TUH!, vee-TUH!, vee-TUH!
It’s that time of year, when Jeremy Fowler of ESPN drops results from his annual survey of league executives, coaches and scouts, an exercise to rank the best 10 players at every position.
Yesterday, Bucky Irving was disrespected. Today it’s Vita Vea’s turn to get love in the defensive tackles breakdown.
Vea checked in at No. 9 in the anonymous survey, sandwiched between DeForest Buckner (Colts) and four-time All-Pro and future Hall of Famer Cameron Heyward (Steelers).
Age 30 | Last year’s ranking: honorable mention
Vea slimmed down last offseason, and the result was a career-high 7.0 sacks along with his usual run-stopping ways. But the stats don’t tell the story with Vea, whose raw strength is undeniable.
“He’s the kind of guy where if you don’t have him [on your team] for a while, playing defense is a lot tougher,” a veteran NFL assistant coach said. “A true difference-maker.”
Vea’s 10 tackles for loss also marked a career high. Head coach Todd Bowles is unafraid to drop the 347-pound Vea into coverage, where he makes open-field plays, to the dismay of Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson.
Outside the top-10 were five “honorable mention” defensive tackles, plus six other DTs who got at least a one vote in the top-10 survey. Bucs third-year man Calijah Kancey was in the latter group.
Joe will note that the No. 1 defensive tackle honor went to Giants DT Dexter Lawrence, the guy Cody Mauch recently named on the Beyond The Spotlight podcast as his most brutal matchup last season.
And for those skeptical of new Bucs edger rusher Haason Reddick, No. 5 on the list was Jets stud Quinnen Williams, who has 3 Pro Bowl trips and 23.5 sacks over the past three seasons.
July 8th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
That’s about right, Vita was great last season. Calijah and Logan Hall were beating. Even CJ Brewer and Greg Gaines were balling out, when in the game. But we got mostly nothing from the Edge. Our Edge Rushers was ” lost in space”. Yaya got a lot of pressures, but he couldn’t seal the deal..
July 8th, 2025 at 1:12 pm
This says it all.
“ Head coach Todd Bowles is unafraid to drop the 347-pound Vea into coverage “
SMDH
Give me another drink.
July 8th, 2025 at 1:37 pm
Irving made Honorable Mention in his group so anyone that says he was Disrespected brings to mind That 70’s show and something Red would say regularly. Respect is earned over time and a first year running back to get even mentioned as high as 11 is more accolades than anything else. Barry Sanders ran behind some of the worse OLines ever and got his numbers but let’s start comparing Irving to Sanders. That would be about as dumb as saying Mayfield = Brees because they are both 6 foot.
Irving at possibly 11 with Kamara @ 10 is a no brainer based on what each had clearing the road.
July 8th, 2025 at 1:37 pm
If we get good production from Reddick the d line could be great.
July 8th, 2025 at 1:50 pm
Inside DLine is an absolute strength of this team – and I expect Kancey will be even better this year.
ts a hell of a mix between our 2 primary starters – Vea with his mass and strength along with incredible ‘big man’ athleticism – and Kancey as likely the quickest, fastest, most athletic 300ish lb player in the league right next to him for (hopefully) 50%+ of all defensive snaps in 2025. That’s a real pick your poison scenario for OLine’s trying to decide who to double in order to keep pressure out of their Quarterback’s face….
Then there’s Hall who logs a good # of snaps at DE/5 tech in the mix – coming off his most productive year and playing for his first big contract in the league.
That’s 3 first round picks (almost – Hall was pick #33) as your DL ‘starters’….
And everyone is excited apparently about 5th rd rookie Roberts – who was a productive pass rusher coming mostly off the edge in College at SMU – but will be working inside with the DT/DE group moving forward….
Greg Gaines is a solid veteran back up for relatively cheap….
Mike Green and CJ Brewer provide solid talent as back up to the back ups….
Oh – and then we’ve got a very LARGE hunk of clay for coaches to try and shrink/mold into an NFL football player in Desmond Watson…. that process should be fun to watch during camp and preseason….
July 8th, 2025 at 2:09 pm
Silly to compare Vita to DT’s in 4-3 schemes.
As far as Nose Tackles go, Vita is top-3 in the league for sure.
And for the record, Vita and Kancey play different positions.
Since we run a 3-4 scheme, Vita is our only DT and Kancey is a DE.
July 8th, 2025 at 2:30 pm
Eric, I’d say Kancey is a DT unless he’s setting an edge. And that’s not what he does. In that 3-4 that OLB is setting that edge. Most of Kanceys rushes are between the tackles although you’ll see him looping around the edge on stunts. And of course he peels back and covers WR 1s on post routes.
July 8th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
The former Center for the Eagles (Kelce) said his decision to retire was heavily influenced by never having to block Vea again.
I don’t care about rankings. Vea is Legiondary.
July 8th, 2025 at 4:04 pm
BUCKY is a top 10 back, top 5 in ypc, #1 in yards after contact, 2nd best receiver from the rb position….. anyone saying he needs to “wait his turn” doesn’t know ball.
July 8th, 2025 at 4:08 pm
The one time I saw Vita drop back he smashed the guy causing a fumble in the red zone. Bowles had the drop some of the OLB to cover for all the injuries in the backfield. I bet we won’t see it as much this year.