ESPN has started releasing the results of their yearly NFL poll that includes asking league execs, coaches, scout, and other members who the best players are at each position. They usually get some interesting results as it paints a picture of the difference between talent in the eyes of fans and the league in most cases.
The first position they discussed this week was the defensive tackle group in the NFL.
For the Bucs, they had one representative in Vita Vea, who earned the ninth spot in the poll. Among those polled, he was ranked second by one voting member, while some members omitted him entirely from their top ten rankings.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who gathered the list and poll, wrote about Vea, saying, “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. 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.”
Fowler also included a quote from a veteran NFL assistant coach who discussed Vita Vea. He told Fowler, “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 true difference-maker.”
Vea aims to build on his rise in the polls with a strong 2025 performance, potentially earning higher respect among league members. For now, he will have to settle for being a fan favorite with the fans and those within the Bucs organization.
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