Originally posted by Screeme
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You don't actually need to watch all of them, one or two is probably enough.
When I read a lot of people's reviews of Vea, they keep seeing Haloti Ngata, the great Ravens player who is just signed with the Eagles. There are some physical similarities, but if you watch him play (DT, #96) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ear45a96pHc), he plays like an NFL DL. There was no projecting him being something that he wasn't. He needed to refine his technique and raise his level of play, but he was basically what you wanted in a DT.
It's not that I am totally against drafting Vea. I am against drafting him in the 1st round. I really don't like the idea of drafting a guy at #17 who is a huge project. There are other projects (Settle?) who are projects but can be had later in the draft. If Vea is still there in the 4th round (unlikely), I am totally onboard to draft him.
Vea is a fantastic physical specimen. I think, if you get everything right in coaching him, he can turn into a great player. But he is a project, and there are guys who have the physical skills like Vea every year and most never develop into anything. It's always a risk when you try to turn a player from what he is (a catcher) to a what you want him to be (penetrator).
I just don't think a 1st round guy is where you want to do it.
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