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Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans split on Vita Vea

By James Yarcho

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 17: Defensive lineman Vita Vea 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 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) /
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers used their first round pick on Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea and Bucs fans are pretty divided on the choice.

Jason Licht traded the seventh overall pick of the draft in order to accumulate picks 53 and 56 from the Buffalo Bills in addition to the number twelve pick. After seeing two more quarterbacks go, things appeared to be falling into place for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to still select Florida State safety Derwin James while accumulating those extra pick.

Then, out of nowhere, the pick was Washington defensive tackle Tevita Tuliakiono Tuipuloto Mosese Va’Hae Faletau Vea – better known as Vita Vea.

Vea is a darn good defensive tackle and fits the continued effort to completely transform what was the worst defensive line in the NFL in 2017. Once the pick was announced, Buccaneers fans took to Twitter to express their feelings;

https://twitter.com/jacobstowww/status/989683270135709696

Yeah, it wasn’t well received by some. One thing to keep in mind – as is not the case with all of the above replies – is when FSU Bucs fans don’t see a Nole drafted to the Buccaneers, they get upset. Every year it’s the same thing – there’s a Seminoles player that the Bucs “have” to take and this years player was Derwin James. It didn’t happen, so many of them are upset.

On the other hand, there are plenty that saw the pick differently;

https://twitter.com/IcewaterOlson/status/989677893168050176

Finally, from a member of his new team;

I find it a bit humorous that all the people that were screaming about how this team had no pass rush, no sacks, couldn’t stop the run, and couldn’t get Gerald McCoy any help are now angry that the main focus of the offseason has been fixing that exact issue.

The secondary is going to look a lot better when quarterbacks don’t have all day to throw the ball and pick them apart. Look at the Eagles’ super bowl run. They had a constant rotation of effective defensive linemen who were always fresh.

Next: Buccaneers Select Vita Vea

You build from the front to the back, and with the acquisition of two more second round picks, the secondary will still have the opportunity to be addressed.

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